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THE LIBRARY
OF
THE UNIVERSITY
OF CALIFORNIA
LOS ANGELES
WILLIAM GEORGE'S SONS LTD.
BOOKSELLERS
89 PARK STREET, BRISTOL
"DA
ADVERTISEMENT
TO THE FIRST EDITION.
XT has been remarked (by Mr. Bofvvell, in
his Tour to the Hebrides) that, " In every
place where there is any thing worthy of ob-
iervation, there (hould be a fhort printed Di-
rectory for Strangers." For this reafon, and
from the frequent enquiries of gentlemen,
travelling through this borough, for informa-
tion relative to its church, antiquities, &c.
the Editor has been induced to compile this
little Work. And, as it is more immedi-
ately calculated for the convenience of flran-
gers, it may be neceffary to obferve, that it
is collected not only from a variety of mate-
rials found in the bed authors, but from an
attentive examination of the church, &c. on
the fpot, as well as the beft private informa-
tion. And he embraces this opportunity of
acknowledging his obligations to thofe gen-
6'\A £-\A ft
iJ!.UjLo
ENGLISH LOCAL
tlcmen who have furnifhed him with feveral
manufcript copies of ancient records, and
the works of many learned authors who have
treated on this fubject.
The Editor intreats the candour of his
readers, and their pardon of errors and de-
feels, which, (notwitbflanding every care,)
may be found in this publication ; allcdging
for his excufe, the want ®f more authentic
records, and the contradictions and chafms,
which, in the lapfe of a thoufand years, muft
be expected in thofe which are to be ob-
tained.
PREFACE
TO THE. SECOND EDITION.
WHEN fuccefs Simulates to new ex-
ertions, and gratitude difplays itfelf in a foli-
citude to pleafe, the public, it is hoped, will
allow that favour has not been mifplaced, or
encouragement thrown away.
Animated by the recollection of paft ap-
probation to attempt farther improvements,
the Editor of this little volume has new mo-
delled and extended bisfubjecT: matter under
almoft every head. With refpecl: to the ad-
ditional engravings*, it is prefumed they will
be found illuilrative as well as ornamental,
and prove acceptable to the generality of his
readers.
On the whole, he indulges the pleating
expectation that the utility of his work will
not be folely confined to the place for which
* Oftavo edit. pub. in 1798.
[ vi ]
it was originally intended. What is local is
often of general import ; and if he has the
fatisfaclion to find, that by this endeavour to
illuftrate a fmall part of our national antiqui-
ties, he has prompted others of fuperior ta-
lents to produce fimilar works, where the
field lies open for enquiry and inveftigation,
he will think that his labours have not been
quite in vain. Indeed that labour cannot be
in vain, which has given him an opportunity
of fhewing his zeal in favour of a town which
has conferred upon him the honour of a pa-
tronage, far beyond his humble merits, or
even his molt fanguine expectations.
Sketch of GloccjlerJIiire.
r [I s HOUGH Glocefterfliire has an immediate cora-
A munication with the fea, by means of the Se-
vern, it is always confidered as an inland county.—
During the Saxon heptarchy it belonged to the king-
dom of Mercia*. It now forms a diocefe of its own
name, and is included in the Oxford circuit.
It is bounded on the north by Worcefterfliire, on
the eaft by Warwickfhire and Oxfordfhire, on the fouth
by Wiltfhire and part of Somerfet, and on the weft by
* The kingdom of Mercia, the fineft and mod confiderable of
all the divifions of the Heptarchy, contained the counties of
Huntingdon, Rutland, Lincoln, Northampton, Leicefter, Derby,
Nottingham, Oxford, Chefter, Salop, Glocefter, Hereford, Wor-
celtcr, Stafford, Warwick, Buckingham, Bedford, and part of
Hertford. Its length was »6o miles, and breadth about 100
miles. Derivation from the Saxon HER, fignifying ABOUND.
Vlll GLOCESTERSHIRE.
the counties of Monmouth and Hereford. It ftretchc§
from north-eaft to fouth-weft, in length about (X) miles,
and in breadth upwards of 40; containing, accord-
ing to the moft accurate calculation, 130O fquare miles,
or 832,000 acres, divided into 30 hundreds and 280
parilhes. In its whole extent it has one city and 26
market towns; pays 12 parts to the national land-tax,
and furnilhes 960 men to the militia. It delegates
eight members to parliament ; two for the county, and
the fame number for Glocelier, Tewkelbury, and
Cirencefter. v
The general fertility and riches of Glocefterfhire
are almoft proverbial ; and its diverfity of foil and
fituation render it pidturefque and beautiful. The
river Severn divides it into two unequal parts. To the
weft of that river, as far as the Wye, (its boundary to-
wards Monmouth fliire,) the face of the country is varied
with hill and dale, and comprehends the celebrated
foreft of Dean, once reckoned the chief fupport of the
Englifti navy, and ftill celebrated for its mineral pro-
ductions, as well as its fylvan fcenes. Between the
Severn and the Cotefwold hills, extends the vale of
Tewkefbury, pofieffing a foil the moft fertile and lux-
uriant of any in the kingdom. The Cotefwold hills,
the eaftern or upland diyifion of this county, are no
lefs valuable for their breed of (heep ; and were once
famous for the games that ufed to be annually celebrated
in the vicinity of Camden, during Whitfun week.
High Cotefwold alfo 'mong the fliepherd fwains
Is oft' icmember'd, tho' the greedy plough
Preys on its carpet.
BYE&'S rtrio.
fcLOCESTERSHIRE. IX
'Such are fhe three natural divifions of this county j
'the foreft, the vale, and the upland. Each porlefles it*
peculiar and appropriate beauties and advantages, and
taken collectively, render Glocefterihire as defirable as
it is diitinguillied.
The ftaple manufactures of this county, are its
woollen cloth and cheefe. Though the firft is lefs ex-
tenfively carried on than formerly, on account of the
rivalry it meets with in Yorklhirej the beauty of the
fabric has never been excelled ; and the clothing towns
of Stroud, Wotton-under-Edge, Painfwick, Durfley,
&c. with the neighbouring villages, difplay a iingular
degree of opulence and aclivity.
The Glocefterfhire cheefe ftill maintains a diftin-
gaifhed reputation. That of Berkeley hundred, or the
double Glocefter, as it is called, for richnels and flavor,
is juftly celebrated.
Betides thefe two principal articles of native and ar-
tificial produce, the forefts of Dean and Kingfwood
abound in mines of iron and coal, which furnim em-
pJoyment for a number of hands, and increafe the ge-
neral wealth of the nation.
Nor muft we forget to particularize the excellent
cyder which the vale and the foreft produce. Many
of the orchards, in favourable years, are not lefs valu-
able than the vineyards of trance and Spain. The
ftyre apple, almoft peculiar to the weftern banks of the
GLOCESTERSHIRE.
Severn, yields a liquor fo potent and delicious, that it
may be named the Englifh champaign.
The bacon too of this county is in high eftimation,
and forms no inconfiderable article of its domeftic com-
merce. The falmon of the Severn and the Wye are
alib plentiful and choice, and are conveyed to the me-
tropolis in great quantities.
In a particular defcription of Glocefterfhire, many
other branches of manufacture or native produce, would
deferve notice ; but a general furvey is all that can be
expected here.
Near the conflux of the Severn and the Warwick -
fhire Avon, ftands TEWKESBURY. As this antient
town forms the iubject of the prelent volume, we fhall
only obferve, in this place, that it will ever be tliftin-
guiftied for its church, its monaflry, and the decifive
battle, fought in 14/1, which reduced the Lancaftriani
to fubmiffion, and forced them to bend to Edw. IV.
Purfuing the courfe of the Severn, we come to
GLOCESTER, the capital of the county. This city, in
point of antiquity, may vie with any in the kingdom.
It confifts of four principal ftreets, which meet at right
angles, the central point being the moft elevated
ground ; from which circumftance the view has a
charming effect. Modern improvements have greatly
heightened the beauty of this city. A pin manu-
factory employs a great number of hands ; and when
the amazing canal, now executing to this place, i»
GLOCESTERSHIRE. XI
finifhed, Glocefter is likely to poflefs a confiderable
ihare of foreign trade ; and, by leffening the expenfe
of land carriage, will add to the benefit of the inland
counties, while it enriches itfelf.
The bafon now forming here is faid to be capable
of containing from 100 to 150 veflels. The dangerous
navigation of the Severn, for fome miles below Glo-
cefler, has hitherto been a great bar to fhipping; but
this difficulty will be obviated by the canal, which is
of fufficient depth and dimenfions to carry veifels of
200 tons burden, without the impediment of a tingle
lock.
BRISTOL, the fecond city in England for com-
merce and extent, is fituated partly on the Glocefter-
ihire and partly on the Somerfetfhire fide of the lower
Avon. It is now a county of itfelf, and therefore does
not fall under our preient review. The hot wells,
however, in its vicinity, belong to Glocefterfhire, and
increafe its provincial diftin&ion. Thefe fprings have
obtained great reputation for their falutary influence,
in one of the moft afflicting maladies to which man-
kind are fubjed. In the cure of confumptions they
are generally the laft refort, and were they applied to
in the earlier flages of this diforder, it is probable their
effects would not fo often fail, nor numbers of youth of
both fexes be hurried to an untimely grave.
While on the fabjecl: of mineral waters, we fliall
now advert to CHELTENHAM, about ten miles from
Tewkelbury, and the fame diftance from Glocefler.—
B 2
XU CLOCESTF.RSHIRE.
The Tktues of the Cheltenham Spa are fo well known,
that they do not tiand in need of our recommendation.
In fcorbutic, bilious, and nervous complaints, they are
almoft a Ipeciffc; while the beauty of the place, the
charms of the fociety, and the elegance of the amule-
ments, render this fpot a favourable fummer retreat,
not only to invalids, but to the famionable and the
gay. Within a few years. Cheltenham has rifen to
great and deferved celebrity, and has increafed in
magnitude and population beyond moft watering places
in the kingdom.
CIRENCESTER, the Corimum of antiquity, is ftill
a borough town of great eminence, and one of the
largeft in this county. Formerly its wool market was
very considerable ; but fince the baneful practice of buy-
ing up wool, and almoft every article in the country,
has increafed, markets of all kinds dwindle away j the
poor are robbed, the growers of domeftic produce not
bettered, while a few monopolifts fatten on both.
Cirencefter is famous, not only for its remains of Ro-
man architecture, but alfo for earl Bathurft's extenfive
park, which adjoins it. In the fociety of the venerable
Allen, earl Bathurft, Pope ipent many happy days at
this place j and gave it a diftinclion, which mere rank
and opulence could never have conferred.
TETBURT is alfo a place of fome confequence. It
ftands on the verge of Wiltfhire, in a fertile foil, and
a falubrious air. The chief ornament of this town is
its fuperb church, which was fome years lince ereded
by fubfcription, at an immenfe expenfe, and in the
nioft beautiful ftile of Gothic Architecture.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE. XtU
ftands In the centre of the clothing
country, frequently called the Glocefterfhire bottoms^
It is feated on the fide of a imall ilream, vvhich is faid
to be peculiarly adapted for the dyeing of fcarlet. On
this account, its banks are covered with the feats and
manufactories of the clothiers. This rivulet is accom-
panied in its progrefs to the Severn by a canal, which,
pafling Stroud, connects the Severn with the Ifis ; fb
that the junction of thefe two noble ttreams is no longer
a poetic vifion. The arched tunnel through Salperton
hill is nearly two miles and a half long, and at a level
250 feet below its fummit. Few works of the kind
are more ufeful, or have been more expenfive, than this
navigation.
FAIR FORD is chiefly remarkable for its elegant
church, built on purpofe to receive the fine painted
glafs, the work of Albert Durer, above three centuries
ago. This beautiful and unique collection of painted
glafs is arranged in 28 windows, in regular feriesj and
in vivid beauty of colouring, chaftity of defign, and
eorrectnels of perspective, may vie with the moft cele-
brated productions of the pencil. John Tame, a mer-
chant in London, and a native of Fairford, had the
good fortune to feize this invaluable prize, as it wa»
tranfporting to Rome; and, to immortalize himfelf,
built the church, and adorned it with the above-men-
tioned glafs, which is flill in better prefervation than
might be expected from the diftance of time, and the
revolutions which have taken place.
The other towns in this county do not prefent
any thing remarkable to the curfory furveyorj we,
XtV GLOCESTERSHIRE.
therefore, omit to particularize them. BERKELEY
CASTLE, however, is a place of fo much note in hiftory,
that it ought not to be overlooked in the moft general
view of this county. It was formerly dedicated to
religion ; but was much diflionoured by the long con-
finement and moft inhuman murder of Edward II. —
To this direful event the prophetic Bard of Gray al-
ludes:—
" The fhrieks of death through Berkeley's roofs that ring,
" Shrieks of an agoni/.ing king."
CONTENTS.
Page
Defcriptivc Sketch of Glocefterfnire • 7
PART I.
Situation, Antiquity, and Derivation of TKWKESBURY 17
Foundation of thr Abbey— Hiftorical Account of the Lords
of the Manor ... 21
Abbey Church .... 44
Antient Monuments, Infcriptions, <&c. - 49
Modern Monuments and Infcriptions - 55
Topographical Defcription of the Town, Trade and Government 60
Public Strudures : — Town Hall 67
Marketplace - . , 6&
Houfe of Induftry 68
Free Grammar School . 68
Charity School .... 69
Sunday Schools - • 69
Hamlets — Mythc and Southwick 70
Rivers furrounding Tewkefbury:—
The Severn - • - 72
Avon • -79
Carron and Swilgate . - 80
Remarkable and Interefting Incidents - - 81
PART IL.
Surrender of the Monaftery to king Hen. VIII. • 107
Chronological Series of the Abbots, &c. . 113
CONTENTS.
particulars of the Battle of Tewkefbury « • 117
D:avton's Verfes on the Battle - - 136
Military Tranfaftions in the Reign of Charles I • 139
APPENDIX.
•Some Account of the Walton Water - • H«
LIST OF THE PLATES,
fubl'ijled lu'itb the large Octavo Edition of this Workt
WHICH MAY BI HAD SEPARATE,
Price 2s. a Set.
* Tewkcfbury, from Cork's Hill.
View of the Old Abbey Gate-houfe.
'Plan of the Town.
Abbey Church.
Defpcnfer's Monument.
Town Hall and Market Place.
* This charming view is taken from the delightful little emi^
nence of Cork's Hill, near an alcove creeled by the prefent bifliop
of Ely, who has a pleafantly fituated feat in the neighbourhood,
" Here you may fit and enjoy to great advantage a very fine
view. It commands an extenfive and beautiful profpecl, and a good
view of Tewkefbury, which is about a mile diftant. Though the
country is not called a very hilly one, yet the ground rifes and falls
in fuch a pleafing manner as to give great variety to it. The Severn
•winds fweetly through the valley, and a number of fmall vefleis
continually paffing, arc a very great addition to the beauty of the
fccne. A view up the vale of Evelham completes the landfcapet."
The drawing of the above was fketched by the mafterly hand
of Mr. Samuel Ireland (author of Pifturefquc Views on the War-
wickfhire Avon, &c ) who politely prefentcd it to the editor for
the prcfcnt hiftory.
f Mrs. Morgan in her Tcur to Milford Haven.
TEWKESBURY.
SITUATION — ANTIdUITY — ORIGIN AND DEKIVATIOK
OF THE NAME,
Loft in the mift of years, Refle£Hon ftrays
In fearch of Truth, thro' Fi6Uon's devious wayt.
ANON.
1 EWKESBURY lies in the hundred to
which it gives name, in the county of Glocefter j about
10 miles from that city, 15 from Worcester, and 103
miles from London j in the dired road from Briftol to
Birmingham.
It is pleafantly fituated in a moft delightful and
fertile vale, which affords luxuriant crops of grain and
fruits, as well as rich pafturage for cattle and fheep.
Like another Eden it is watered by four rivers : the
Severn and the Avon, at the confluence of which it
ftandsj and two fmaller Ilreams— the Carron and the
Swilgate.
This irriguous fituation expofes it to annoyance
from great and rapid floods, when the overcharged
A
[ 18 ]
flrenms intermingling, mutually impede each others
courfe; but the fertility they diflfufe, and the inter-
oourfe they promote by navigation, amply compenfate
for this local inconvenience. The Severn and Avon are
adapted for veflels of confiderable burden ; while their
tributary ftreams, the Carron and the Swilgate, add to
the general amenity and fertilization of the fpot.
A defire to explore the remote antiquity of places,
and to trace the derivation of their names, is fo natural
to the mind of man, that conjecture has too frequently
been called in to fupply the place of truth, and the vi-
fions of ingenious theorifts have been fubftituted for
actual demonftration.
We have all the partiality for our fubject that can
arife from native prediliSion and voluntary labour, and
and wifh it were in our power to do it greater juftice.
There is a charm in being able to develope myftery,
which every hiftorian is anxious to feel, however hum-
ble the department he aflumes. In regard to the origin
of Tewkeibury however, it is fo remote as to be almoft
antecedent to written memorials. Uniform tradition
has recorded the name of Theocus, a religious reclufe,
who lived about the end of the feventh century, and
had a chapel on the banks of the Severn, near this
place. Whether a town then exifted where Tewkef-
bury now ftands, is unknown ; but in days when de-
votees followed thofe who were eminent for religious
zeal, and the molt auftere were not indifferent about
the admiration of their fellow men; we may reafonably
fuppofe that Theocus was not the fingle inhabitant of
the fpot.
However this may be, whether Theocus was dif-
tinguilhed as a religionift, or a warrior, or both, it ap-
pears highly probable, that we owe the etymology of
[ 19 ]
Tewkefbnry to this perfonage. A ftr'iGt attention to
original orthography, where it can be alceitained, is
furely the heft mode of investigating the derivation of
names To this end inscriptions and records, that bear
evident marks of antiquity, are more conducive than a
thoufand hypothefes. From fuch a fource we are for-
tunately able to draw confiderable afliftance. It appears
by an antient Saxon infcription. difcovered in the church
of Leominfter in Herefordfhire, in 15Q2, (a copy of
which is preferved in Weever's Funeral Monuments,
p. 584.) that Tewkelbury in the Saxon era was called
Deocij-t yjig, that is Theotiibyrg, or Theot-his-byrg.
Now that byjig or Byjiij (lat. Urbs) lignifies a fort,
caftle, town, or borouch, is evident from Lye's Saxon
Diet. Codex Exon. and Somn. Voc. Anglo- Saxonicum ;
from whence it appears, that Theotiitmrg means Theot
his town, or the town belonging to Theot.
This derivation, though it would denote a perfon
who poflefled temporal power rather than fpiritual dif-
tin&ion, is naturally enough deduced from Theocus j
while contending etymologifts lofe themfelves in a la-
byrinth of abfurdities by fanciful deductions, which
even the great and allowed difference between antient
and modern appellations will fcarcely juftify.
William of Malmelbury, not fatisfied with verna-
cular idioms, attempts to derive Tewkefbury from the
Greek word THEOTOCOS, the Mother of God; becaufe
the monaftery, which was afterwards built here, was
dedicated to the virgin mother ; but we conceive that
the town was antecedent to the monaftery, and that the
latter obtained its name from the former.*
* It has been urged, notwithftanding the probability of the town
having derived Hsnavnefrom Thcocut, thatthe monailery was ante-
[ 20 J
Others will have it that it takes its name from
Dodo or Thodo, one of the lords of the manor and
founder of the monaftery, obferving that the D and Th
are frequently fubftituted for each other in the Saxon
language. Hence they infer, that from Thodo comes
the Latin derivative Thodocus, and from that Teode-
chefberie as in Domefday book ; but this feems to be
more particularly in favour of the derivation from
Theocus.
It has alfo been conjeftured, that Theocus and
Dodo or Thodo were one and the fame perfon, and to
this opinion their contemporary exiftencc appears to
give probability. f
Leaving fuch difquifitions, which are more cu-
rious than ufeful, we {hall only remark, that the
word Bury, however differently written, correfponds
with the primitive Saxon termination. And though
Old Bury field certainly indicates a place that was the
fite or in the vicinity of a camp or fortification,* yet we
have no reafon to conclude that there was a military
ftation at Tewkefbury, or that the name was in the
lead degree dependent on this fpot for its termination.
On the contrary, we learn that Old Bury is a name
cedcnt to any habitation here. An opinion founded chiefly on the
belief, that the fituation of thofe buildings was generally chofenin
the moil fequcftercd parts. But we cannot upon the mod mature
confideration acquiefce in this opinion, becaufe we believe as well
in this inftance as many others, that the building of thofc edifice*
was not unfrequently induced by the felicity and convenience of
the fituation.
t AH ingenious gentleman fuppofes, that the name of Tewkef-
bury may be derived from the rank of duke Dodo and his brother
and originally called Dukefbury.
C 21 ]
which has been given to meadows or pieces of inclofed
ground belonging to religious houfes, without the moft
dirtant intimation of their having ever been applied to
military purpofes. f- The name alfo implies the Old
Town. Either of which derivations carries a greater
degree of probability than the conjectures hazarded, by
more general hiftorians.
FOUNDATION OF THE ABBEY — HISTORICAL ACCOUNT
OF THE LORDS OF THE MANOR.
,UITTING the boundlefs field of conjec-
ture, we are now arrived at a period and a fubjeft in
which we can be guided by the lights of hiftorical evi-
dence. The path however is ftill not without afperities
and chafms ; but the candid and intelligent will make
allowances for difficulties not to be furmounted, and
for omiffions which no induftry can fupply, in a nar-
rative of tranfa&ions, which embraces the long period
of eleven hundred years.
In the reigns of Ethelred, Kenred, and Ethelbald,
kings of Mercia, there flourifhed in that divifion of
the ifland two brothers, Odo and Dodo, no lefs diftin-
guiflied for their high rank than for their eminent vir-
tues and pious difpofitions. Among other evidences of
their zeal for the honour of God, in the year 715 J they
i See Williams's Monmouthfhire.
J According to Stow in 676— where their palace formerly flood
as was fhewn by the following infcription, which, as Camden af-
ferts, remained there long after :
pSNC . HVUKD R6DIHCD . DODO . DVX . CONSGCRERI
rec IT . IN . ecciesiscn.
4 This royal palace duke Dodo caufed to be confccrated for a church*
and Odo his brother endowed it.
. [ 22 ]
founded a monaftery on their own cftate at Tewke f-
bury, and dedicated it to I he virgin mother, and en-
dowed it with the manor of Stanwayf in Glocetterilnre
and other polfeflions, fulficient to maintain a prior and
four or five monks, who were of the Benedictin|| order.
The founders of this monaflery, which afterwards be-
came fo famous, died about the year 725, and were
buried at Perfliore.
In the year SOO, Hugh, a nobleman of Mercia,
being patron of the priory of Tewkefbury, procured
Bri6tric, king of the Weft Saxons (who married the
daughter of OrTa, a Mercian king) to be buried there,
in St. Faith's chapel, where he himlelf in 812 was alfo
buried, on the north fide of the body of the church.
•f Leland fays, " Odo and Dodo gave to Theokefbyri Staneway
cum membris, videlicet, Tadmgton, Preftecote et Didcot.'* Thi»
ettate continued in the abbey of Tewkefbury until the Diffolution;
it was then granted by the Crown to William Tracy of Todding-
ton, efq. and his defcendants.
[| The order of the Berediftins is the mod ancient and the richeft
order of the monks, from which many other eminent orders have
been derived. St. Benedict was born at Narfi in Italy : he infti-
tuted his order at Monte Cafmo in the year 516, and died at that
place in 543. There have been of this order, 4 emperors, 12 em-
preffes, ^Gkin^s, and <,i queens. ATKY us' Gi-o.p. i. — Theform
and colour of the habits of thefe monks, it isfaid,were atfirft left
to the direction of the abbots, who varied them according to the
feafon and climate. But it was afte. wards ordained, that they
fhould wear a loofe gown of black fluff, reaching down to. the
heels, with a cowl or hood of the fame, and a fcapulary ; under this
another habit of the fam e fize, made of white flannel, and boots on
their legs, from the coloui of their outward habit, they were ge-
nera ly called black monks. Their beds were a mat, fome ftraw,
and a pillow. Their covering a blanket and a piece of ferge.
G*OSE'S ANT icui TIES.
[ 23 ]
In the year 980, a nobleman named Haylward
Snow, (from his fair complexion) and defcended from
king Edward the elder, founded a monaflery on his own
eftate at Cranhurne in Dorletflu're, and at that time
lubje&ed the priory of Tewkelbury, of which he was
patron, to the abbey of Cranburne. Hiftorians give
him the character of being valiant and generous in his
early years, and in his latter, devout. Of his devotion,
according to the ideas of the times, he gave a fufficient
proof in his founding a monaftery. Algar his eldeft
fon by his wife Algive, fucceeded him in his eftate,
who dying, was fucceeded by his *fon Bri&ric.
This Brictric being ambaflador at the court of
Baldwin earl of Flanders, Maud, the earl's daughter
fell violently in love with him ; but being flighted {he
afterwards married William the Conqueror; and after
the Norman conqueft, rev nge ftill rankling in her
breaft for fuch a flight, and the Conqueror being
tempted with his large eftate, flie worked Bri£tric s
ruin ; who was feized in his manor of Hanley, and
fent prifoner to Winchefler, where he died without
i(fue, and was there buried. The king afterwards gave
Bri6tric's honour of Glocefter to the queen, who held
it for her life ; but flie dying in 1083, the king re-
tained it in his own hands, the Conqueror dying in
1087, his fon William, furnamed Rufus, (from the
colour of his hair) fucceeded him, who fometime after-
wards gave Briftric's honour of Glocefter f to Robert
* Hiftorians have ftated, that Algar died without iflue, and was
fucceeded by his BROTHER Brictric ; but, that Briftric was the
fon of Algar, appears by many paffages in the Domefday Book,
particularly under the manor of Tewkefbury.
+ After the conqueror's death, his third fon Henry,' claimed his
mother's pofleffions in England, of which king William diffeized
C 24 ]
FIlz-Hamon, Ion of Hamon Dentatus lord of Corboile
in Normandy, as a reward for the many fervices he had
performed for his late fatherf.
In the year 1 102, the faid Robert Fitz-Hamon, at
the inftance of Sybil his wife and Girald the Abbot of
Cranburne, rebuilt Tewkefbury church with all the
offices*, and endowed it with many large poffeffions,
and it being judged that this place exceeded the mo-
naftery of Cranburne in fruitfulnefs of foil and plea-
fantnefs of fituation, abbot Girald and the monks that
year removed to Tewkefbury, leaving only a prior and
two monks at Cranburne, to keep up the memory of
him, beftowing them on Robert Fitz-Hamon, fon-in-law of Ro.
bert dc Montgomery earl of Shrewfbury ; whereby Henry (after-
wards Hen. I. of England) was reduced during his brother's reign
to a very narrow fubfiftence in Normandy.
+ Robert Fitz-Hamon, in Jogi, made a defccnt into South-
Wales, flew Rhys ap Tewdwr the laft prince thereof, and con.
quered Glamorganmire, His ftyle in his charters runs thus :
" Sir Robert Fitz-Hamon, by the grace of God, prince of
'* Glamorgan, earl of Corboile, baron of Thorigny and Gtan-
" ville, lord of Glocefter, Briftol, Tewkefbury and Caidiff,
" conqueror of Wales, near kinfmanof the king, and general of
*« his highneffes army in France,"
J The monaftery of Tewkelbury being almoft ruined by age
and the fury of the wars, was, in 1102, rebuilt, or rather reftored
and enlarged by Robert Fitz-Hamon, pioufly defigning to make
what Iatisfa£Honhewasable,for the lofs the church of Bajeux in
Normandy fuftained, which Henry I.confumed with fire to free
him from prjfon, butaftc rwards repenting of the faft, rebuilt it.
*' It cannot," fays William of Malmefbury, " be eafily re.
" ported how highly Robert Fitz-Hamon exalted this monaf.
«« tery, wherein the beauty of the buildings ravifhed the eies, and
'« the charity of the monk* allured the hearts of fuch folk as
" ufed to come thither,"
[ 25 ]
the founder of that place ; changed the abbey of Cran-
burne into a priory, and fubjedted it for the future to
the abbey of Tewkeibury. About this period it ap-
pears probable, that Tewkeibury began to ailume feme
confequence as a town.
In the re-taking of Falaize in Normandy, Fitz-
Hamon was ftruck on the temple, which deprived him
of his fenfes, and dying loon after, (March 1107,) he
was brought over and buried in the chapter-houfe of
Tewkelbury; but his bones, in 1241, were removed
by Robert (the third abbot of that name) into the
church, and interred between two Pillars, in a plain
tomb above ground, on the right-hand of the chancel.
Afterwards Thomas Parker, the eighteenth abbot, in
13Q7, caufed the chapel of carved ftone, that how is, to
be erected over him, and appointed a mafs for the
dead to be celebrated every day in memory of this fe-
cond founder and his wife. Robert Fitz-Hamon left
hlue by his wife Sybil, four daughters, — Mabel, Ha-
wife, Cecile, and Amice.
King Henry the firft, after the death of Robert
Fitz-Hamon, being unwilling fo great an eftate as the
honour of Gloucefter ihould be divided amongft fe-
males, made Hawife, abbefs of Winchefter, Cecile, ab-
befs of Shaftfbury, married Amice to the earl of Brit-
taine, and Mabel to his baftard fon Robert, whom he
created conful and earl of Gloucefter,* This earl,
* The following very curious account of King Henry's courting
the lady for his fon, who at firft refufed him from his want ot a
title, is given us by Robeit of Gloucefter in the following lines :
" Sir, fhee faide, ich wotc your herte upon me is,
More for myne Heritage, than for myfelfc I wis :
B
[ 26 ]
every funday in the year, had the abbot of Tewkrs-
burv and twelve of the monks to dine with him. He
And fuch lierilage as ich have, hit weer to mcc greet fhaine
To take a lorde, hut he had any furname :
Damofeill, quoth the kyng, thou feed well in this cafe,
Sir Robert Fit/,-Hayine thi fader s name was :
As fayre a name he thall have, as you mav lee,
Sir Robert Ic Fitz-Roy fhall his name be :
Damofeill, he fay'd, thi lorde fhall have a name
For him and for hisheiies fayre without blame;
For Robert eric of Gloucefter his name fhall be and is
Hee (hall be erleof Gloucefter, and his heires I wis
Line this forme, quoth fhec, ich wole that all my thyng be his."
Robert, natural fon of Henry I. was born of Nell, the daughter
of Rhys ap Tcwdwr, prince of South Wales.
All writers agree in giving this young nobleman a mod exec lent
character ;-—" who had no inconfiderable ttnflure of learning, and
" was the patron of all thofe who excelled in it : qualities rare
" at all times in a noblernan of his high rank, but particularly fo in
" an age when knowledge and valour were thought incompatible,
" and not to be able to read was a mark of nobility." LYTT. HIST.
HEN. II. vol. i. p 281% Again, " He was unqutilionably the
" wifeft man of thofe times; and his virtue was fuch, that even
" thofe times could not corrupt it. If, when the nation was grown
"equally tired of Matilda and of Stephen, he had afpired to ob.
" tain the Crown for himfelf, he might very polfibly have gained it
•' from both : but he thought it lefx glorious to be a king, than to
" preferve his fidelity and honour inviolate. He fecms to have
" acted only fiom the purcft and noblelt principles of juftice and
<; dutv, without pride, without paffion, without any private views,
*• 01 felfifh ambition : and to this, admirable temper of mind he
"joined all the addrefs and cxtcnfivc abilities, that are particu-
" bily necrflVy for the head of a pa"ity. w'io rniift conncft an<l
t 27 ]
rebuilt * great part of the cattle in Briftol, and gave
every tenth ftone towards the building of a chapel to
the virgin Mary in the priory of St. James' in Briftol,
which he had founded and fubje6ted to the abbey of
Tewkeftmry. He alib re built the caftle of CaerdirF,
and died, the 31ft of October 1 147, of a fever at Glou-
cefter, and was buried at Briftol, in the choir of St.
James's priory, under a tomb of green jafper. In his
time, anno 113p, Walleran de Beaumont, a younger
fon of the earl of Leicefter, and count of Meulant, ran-
facked Tewkefbury, taking immenfe fpoils: a proof of
the extent and opulence of the town at that period.
He fpared, however, the goods of the abbey church.
Robert left iflue, by the faid Mabel his wife, four fons, —
William, Roger, Haman, and Philip ; and one daugh-
ter named Maud.
William, his fon and heir, fucceeded him ; who
married Hawife the daughter of the earl of Leicefter.
This earl William confirmed all the charters, &c. which
his anceftors had granted to Tewkefbury, and added
ibme new endowments. He died in November 1 183, f
and was buried in the abbey of Keyniham, in Somer-
fetlhire, which he had founded in memory of his foa
Robert, who died in 1 166. It appears he had another
fon named Roger, who took orders and became a bi-
fhop. He had three daughters, — Mabel, Amice, and
Ifabel.
* Camden was certainly erroneous in afferting, that Robert,
rail of G'oucefter, was the founder of the cattle of Briftol; for in
1088, it was fpoken of by Roger Hoveden as " Caftrum for-
tifrimum." i.e. A very (trong caftle.
HIST. OF BRISTOL!
+ Dugdalc's Bar- 1 173.
Ifabel, the youngeft, and with her the earldom of
Gloucefter, lordlhip of Tewkelbury, &c. were bellowed
by king Ilichard on his brother John, carl of Cornwall,
iurnamed Lackland, and afterwards king of England.
He built tlu* long bridge at Tewkelbury, and gave the
•whole toll of his market there for the repair of it. Soon
after his acceifion to the crown in ll&Q, having no
ilTue, he divorced Ifabel for barrennefs; and in 1213
gave her in marriage ( fome lay fold her for 2000O
marks) to GeofFry de Mandeville, earl of Eflex, but
retained in his own hands the town of Briftol, and the
Glouceflerfhire eftate, part of her inheritance, till the
year 1215 when he refigned thofe territories to Geof-
i'ry, who was killed at a tournament in London the
next year. Jfabel, in the fame king's reign, and with his
confent, married Hugh de Burgh, chief juflice of Eng-
land; and in or about 1218 died without illue, where-
by the honour of Gloucester came to her nephew —
Almeric Mont fort, fon of the earl of D'Evereaux
in Norm:mdy, by Mabel, eldeft daughter of earl "VVjl-
liam. He married Milicent, the daughter of Husrh
o o
Gournai, and died in or about the year 1221, without
ill ue, and was buried at Keynflianij
"\Vhereupon Gilbert de Clare, fon and heir of
Ilichard de Clare * earl of Hertford, who married
Amice the fecond daughter of the laid earl William,
* Richard was drfcended from Richard de Clare, who came
over with V\ illiam the Conqu roi, and was eldcfl fon to the
carl of Brian in Normandy. The elder Rirliaid was one of the
chief pftices of England in that King's reign, and was poflefiid
of 38 manors in Surry, 3.5 in EfT x, 3 in Cambridgeftme, 2 in
K..-nt, i in MidfHvhx, j i:\ V.'ihs, 1 in Devonthirc, and 95 in
^ ufi !k w' •'•:• •' (*:.»•« v : i';r icincirisl.
[ 29 ]
was admitted to (he honours of Gloucefter and Glamor-
gan, and the lordllrips annexed, as his legal inheritance.
He was the iirft earl of Gloucester and Hertford, both
which earldoms he held jointly. He redded at Holme-
Caftle, (which was fituated on an eminence at the S.
W. end of the town of Tewkefbury, * ) and married
Ifabel, daughter of William Ma.rfb.all, earl of Pem-
broke. This earl Gilbert, in 123O, gave to Tewkes-
bury abbey the My the wood ; and, dying the fame year,
was buried in the middle of the chancel of Tewkelbury
church} leaving iflue by his faid wife, three fons and
two daughters, — Richard, William, Gilbert, Agnes, and
Ifabel. His countefs afterwards married Richard, bro-
ther to king Henry the third, and was buried at Beau-
lieu in Hampshire; but her heart ihe ordered to be tent
in a filver cup to her brother, then abbot of Tewkes-
bury. to be there interred before the high altar.
Richard de Clare the fecond, eldefl fon and heir
of Gilbert, lucceeded his father in titles and eftate, and
* There are no remains of this caftle now extant. Leland
fays, " the tyme of the building of it is onccrteyne. It is cer-
" teyne that the Claret Erics of GIoctftlTt and efpccially the rcdde
" erle lay much at lid me. There hath beene yn tyme of mynd
" fi. e. in memory) fum Partcs of trie Cailel (tending. Now fum
" Ruines of the 15otoms of Waulles appere. Now it is caullid
•' Holme Hylic." The period of its deftru&ion labours unc'ertbe
fame unfortunate predicament with the building. But we may
be allured it was an early ftrufture. The name imports it to
have been of Saxon origin; and if is reafonabie to fuppofe, that
Robert, firft rail of Gloccfter, rcfided at this caftle, as it is faid
(p. 26.) that he had, every Sunday in the year, the Abbot and
Monks of Tcwkcibury to dine with him. And it is not impio-
bable, that it was devaluated with Oiher cafthsand buildings by
the exafperated and rebellious barons, before or after the at-
tainder ot Huj^h le Defpenfer, the younger, who was poffelLd.
of th:- lordfiiip o! 'Tewkcfbur}'.
[ 30 ]
married Maud the earl of Lincoln's daughter. This
earl Richard kept his Chriftmas at Tewkelbury, and
made a feaft at which were preient fixty knights. He
died July 14, 1262. * His bowels were buried at Can-
terbury, his heart in the church of Tunbridge in Kent,
and his body on the right hand of his father in Tewkes-
bury abbey ; where were prefent the bifhops of Wor-
cefter and Landaff, twelve abbots, and a great number
of barons, knights, and other noblemen ; and after-
wards his countefs embellifhed his tomb with gold, fil-
ver, and precious ftones, and fet up his effigy in h'lver,
with the fword and fpurs which he ufed when alive.
He left iflue by his wife Maud, three Ions and three
daughters, — Gilbert, Thomas, Benedict, Ifabel, Mar-
garet, and Rofe. f
Gilbert de Clare the fecond, furnamed the Red,
(from the colour of his hair,) fucceeded his father Ri-
chard in titles and eftate, at the age of feventeen years}
and about 13 E. 1. was divorced from Alice de March,
daughter of Guy earl of Angoulefme and niece to king
Henry the third, to whom he was married in his father's
life time. He afterwards married Joan de Acres, daugh-
ter of king Edward the firft. This earl GDbert, accord-
ing to Leland, dealt hardly with the monks of Tewkes-
bury, and took away the gifts of Gilbert, his grand-
father; but they were afterwards reftored by Gilbert
* In the yere 1262, Richarde Countc de Gloceftrc beyng-
tvith king Henry, in Fraunce, dyed of a Fcbre quartanc, and
•was buried at Tukefbyri Abbay, where aboute his tumbe be
wryten his noble aftes.
L ELAND'S COLLECT, vol. i, p. 456.
+ Willis fpeaks of Richard dc Clare the fecond having a fon,
named Richard, who died in 12921
C 31 ]
the third. He died at his caftle of Monmouth, /th De-
cember 1295, and was buried at Tewkefbury on the
left hand of his grandfather, under a plain Itone, with
an infcription on brais round the edges ; leaving iflue
one fon and three daughters, — Gilbert, Eleanor, Mar-
garet, and Elizabeth. His only Ion Gilbert being then
a child, Joan de Acres, his rdift, kept pofleffion of the
inheritance of the Clares in Gloucefterfhire, and her
fecond hufband, Ralph de Monthermer, had the title of
earl of Gloucester till her death in 1307.
Gilbert de Clare the third, fon of the laft earl Gil-
bert, was the next who poflefled the earldom of Glou-
cefter, lordfhip of Tewkefbury, &c. and married Maud,
daughter of John de Burgh or Berrow, earl of Ulfter;
he had iffue John who died young, much lamented,
and was buried with his anceftors. The line of the
Clares ended in this earl, who fell at the battle of Ban-
nockburn near Striveling in Scotland, 25th June, 1314,
in the twenty-third year of his age. * His body was
* By the Inquifnion taken after the death of Gilbert de
Claf-e, who was killed at Bannotkbutn, 7 E, 2. it appears he
was poffeffed of a park here, containing eighty acres, w hofe un-
derwood and herbage were worth 305 a year; of 460 acres of ara-
ble land at 4-! an acre; of 85 acres and a half of meadow at 2s ;
and of 50 acres of pallure at is an acre; of the rent of free tenants,
12! i2ssd; of a mill worth aos; of De-la-Home Farm, IN MAHU
CUSTOMARIA, which paid us 8d ; of a meffuage which the chap.
Iain ot Afhchurch held, worth 55; of a meirnage which Walter
....... held, worth 4$ ; and of the More farm, worth '.6s a year :
''
[ 32 ]
conveyed to Tewkelbury and buried in the Virgin Ma-
ry's chapel, now demolilhed, on the left hand of his
father, whofe injuftice to the monks he had repaired.
The lady Maud, his countefs, died the 2d of July 1315,
and was buried on the left hand of her hulband. I le
left no furviving iffue, whereby his faid three fitters
became his heirs, and the earldoms of Glouceller and
Hereford were divided. Eleanor, the eldeft, who was
married (1321) to Hugh Defpenfer the younger, fuc-
ceeded her brother in the third part of his eitate, and
was firit countefs of Glouceiter, and the patronage of
the church of Tewkeibury fell to her ihare.
This Hugh Defpenfer, the younger, was lord
chamberlain and chief favourite of Edward the lecond
after Gavefton. Being accuied, with his father, of fe-
ducing the king and opprelling the ftate, he was. by
die queen's orders, without trial, drawn on a hurdle
through the ftreets of Hereford, (2pth November 1326)
hanged on a gallows fifty feet high, beheaded and quar-
tered j his four quarters were lent to different parts of
the kingdom, and his head fixed upon London bridge.
Some parts of his body were privately buried in
Tewkelbury church, by the lavatory of the high altar.
Hugh Defpenfer * left iffue by his wife three fons, —
flallage : that there were 47 cuftomary lands and a half, every one
of which was a virgatc, and held in villeinage : that the total value
of the whole manor, with the burg, was 131! 5? 6d : that there
were two views of frank-pledge, at Michaelmas and Eaiier. and
the certain fines were 7! 125 : that the pleas and perquifites of the
court were worth loos. ; the toll of the burg loos ; and the pleas
and peiquifites 01 the faid burg, by itfelf, loos, per annum*
* Hugh Defpenfer the younger, at his death, pofleflcd 59 man-
ors, 28000 (hecp, icoo oxen, 1200 kine, 40 marcs, i6ohoifcs,
Hugh, Edward, and Gilbert. After bis death his wi-
dow married the lord William le Zouch, * by whom
flic had Hugh le Zouch. William lord le Zouch died
the firft of March 1335, and was buried in the middle
of the Virgin Mary's chapel. She died in June 1337;
whereupon Hugh de Audley, her fifter Margaret's
hufband, was created earl of Gloucefter.
However, Hugh le Defpenfer the third, fen of
Hugh by Eleanor, fucceeded him in the inheritance of
Hanley Caftle, Tewkeltmry, Fairford, &c. (which we
find from this time difunited from the Honour of
Gloucefter) and married Elizabeth, widow of Giles de
Badlefmere, and daughter of William "de Montacute,
earl of Saliibury. This earl, amongft other good gifts,
appropriated the church of Lantriffant to the abbot
and convent in fucceffion, from which they received
50 marks annually. He died without iffue, the 13th
of February 134p, and was buried at Tevvkeibury, on
the right fide of the high altar. Elizabeth, his wife,
afterwards married Guy D'Obrien, + knight, who lies
2000 hogs, 3000 bullocks, 40 tuns of wine, 600 bacons, 80 car-
caffes of Martinmas beef, 600 muttons in his larder, 10 tuns of
cyder, 36 facks of wool, and a library of books, befides in ar-
mour, plate, jewels, and money, to the value of loocol. and up-
wards. One of the anceftors of the Defpenfer family was ftewatd
to William the Conqueror; and from him are dciccnded the
prefent dukes of Mnrlborough.
* William lord le Zouch of Haringworth, was defcended from
theearls of Btetagnc. But, in another account, 'tis faid, that this
William le Zouch was not of the family of the Zouch's, ot
Haringwoi th, but one of the Mortimer'*, nick-named la Zouch
from his feat.
f It is faid, that Guy D'Obrien was of the Thomond family,
in Ireland, and that, in the reign of Edward the thiid, he vava
c
[ 34 ]
buried in a tomb in the aiile near the high altar, in
St. Margaret's chapel. * This Guy D'Obrien appro-
printed certain rents in Briftol to the office of facrift in
Tewkelbury raonaftery ; and to the prieft who (honld
lay the firft mafs for the faid Guy every day, at the
altar of St. Margaret, in Tewkelbury church, with
thefe prayers, God of bis mercy, &c, for his furviving
kindred ; and, Incline, O Lord, &c. for the dead
kindred 5 the mafs of the Trinity on Sunday; the mafs
of the Holy Gfaft, on Monday ; the mafs of St. Thomas
on Tuefclay ; the mafs of the Holy P\.cjl on Wednefday ;
the mais of Afcenfion on Thurfday ; the mafs of the
Holy Crofs on Friday ; the mafs of St. Mary on Satur-
day, twenty-one pence weekly: to him wrho {hould
celebrate mafs on his anniverfary, or on the anniver-
fary of his wife Elizabeth, if the abbot 5s. if the prior,
3s. 4d. to him who (hould read the gofpel, to the rea-
der of the epiftle, to him who {hould hold the paten,
and to the precentor and his two afliftants. 8d. a
piece ; to the prior, 12d. ; and to every monk, 4d. He
departed this life in 1300, but Elizabeth died many
years before, 1359; whereupon her whole dowry, in-
cluding Hanley caftle, Tewkefbury manor, Malvern
chace, &c devolved to her firft huiband's nephew, the
eldeft fon of—-
Edward le Defpenfer, fecond fon of Hugh the
younger, who died before his elder brother Hugh j and
knight of the gtrter, and admiral of his majefly's fleet wcftward.
Bui, another account faysi Elizabeth did not marry one of the
Thomond family, but lord Guy de Brien of Caltle-Walwaine, in
Pembrokefhite, who bore not the arms of the Irifli O'Briens,
but more probably of Britifli extraction, from a noble family in
Dcvonfliire, whofe name Tor-Brien, preserves to this day.
* St. Margaret's chapel, commonly called O'Brien's chapel.
C 35- 1
having married Anne the daughter of lord Ferrers, left
ilfue by her four fons, — Edward, Thomas, Henry, and
Gilbert.
Edward the fecond, * his eldeft fon, fucceeded to
the eftate of his uncle Hugh, and married Elizabeth,
daughter of the lord Bartholomew de Burghurft, lord
chamberlain to king Edward III. He commanded
the rear of the EngMi army in 1373, during their
moft fatiguing and perilous march from Calais to
Bourdeaux. This Edward gave a gold cup to the
monaftery, and a precious jewel ( fays the chronicle, )
neatly contrived to hold the facrament on folemn days,
His eldeft fon, named Edward, died in his youth, at
Caerdiff, but was conveyed to Tewkefbury, where he
was buried with his anceftors, and an infant brother
and litter, Edward deceafed in 1375, leaving iffue
by his faid wife, a fon named Thomas, and three
daughters, — Elizabeth, Anne, and Margaret ; and was
buried on the fouth fide of Tewkeibury church, before
the veftry door near tbe chancel ; where his wife, in
memory of him, built the chapel of the Holy Trinity.
The effigies of this warrior is placed at the top of the
chapel, in a kneeling pofture, with the arms of the
Defpenfers painted on his furcoat. Elizabeth, his coun-
tefs, f continued in widowhood for 33 years ; and
kept for her dowry the lordlhips of Hanley, Tewkes-
bury, Fairford, &c. till her death in 140Q, when they
fell to her grandfon, Richard; his father Thomas le
* This Edward was made knight of the garter, and fummoned
to parliament among the barons, 31 Edw. III.
+ She affumed not the title of countefs : In her laft will fhe
only ftyles herfelf Dame le Defpenferi DIG. BAR.
[ 36 ]
Defpenfer having been beheaded, 1 Hen. IV. She was
buried at Tewkelbury, on the left hand of her hus-
band, under a marble ttone. Elizabeth (amongft other
things) gave to the monaftery, a fuit of fcarlet veft-
ments, embroidered with lions of gold, viz. one coat
with three royal robes and white veftments, and fifteen
mantles or copes. Thomas le Defpenfer married Con-
ftance, daughter of Edmund de Langley, duke of York,
and was created earl of Gloucefter, by Richard II. in
refpect of his defcent from Eleanor, the wife of Hugh
Defpenfer, the younger. Having joined with other
noblemen to dethrone Henry IV. and being taken at
Briftol, he was there attainted and executed, 1 Hen. IV.
1400. He was afterwards buried in the middle of the
choir in Tewketbury church, under a lamp that burned
before the hoft j leaving iflue one fon and one daugh-
ter,— Richard and I label.
Richard le Defpenfer, Con of Thomas, and his
wife Conftance, died in 1414, at or about eighteen years
of age, when he was in guardianfliip to Edmund duke
of York, who had married him to Elizabeth, the eldeft
daughter of Ralph Nevil, earl of Weftmoreland. He
left no iflTue ; and was buried at Tewkelbury, on the
left hand of his father.
Ifabel, his fifter, fucceeded to the title and eftates.
She was married at Tewkelbury, in 1411, by Thomas
Parker, the eighteenth abbot, to Richard Beauchamp,*
the fourth of that name, lord Abergavenny, afterwards
earl of Worcefter, fon and heir of William lord Beau-
champ; who, in right of his wife, had livery of the
* The family of the Beauchamps was tkfcended from Hugh <3e
Beauchamp, who came into England with William the Conqueror.
manor of Tewkefbury, 2 Hen. V. This Richard Beau-
charap, the i8th of March 1421, at the fiege of Meu-
fenbry, (Meaux-en-Brie) in France, was ftruck on his
fide by a ftone caft from a fling, and foon after died with-
out male* iffue, and was buried at Tewkefbury the 25th
of April following, at the bottom of the choir, between
the pillars near the founder's chapel, where the lady
Label, his countefs and widow, built a chapel in 1438,
in memory of him to Mary Magdalen, f which was
painted with the pictures of our Saviour and the twelve
Apoftles, and many coats of arms, which are now de-
faced. Afterwards, by a difpenfation from the pope,
fhe married his coufin german, Richard Beauchamp,,
the fifth earl of Warwick, who was governor of France
and Normandy, under king Henry VI. and died at
the city of Roan, in 1439, but was buried the fame
year at Warwick ; leaving iffue by his faid wife Ifabel,
one fon and one daughter, — Henry and Anne. The
lady Ifabel fettled lands of 300 marks a year on the
church and abbey of Tewkeibury, for the fupport of
fix additional monks. She died the 26th of December
1439, and gave by her will to Tewkelbury church, all
her jewels and other ornaments of her head and body,
reckoned worth 300 marks ; and procured the church
©f Tarrande, in the diocefe of Salitbury, and the church
of Penmarfhe, in the diocefe of LandafFe, to be alfo
appropriated to this abbey. She ordered four mafles to
be faid in the new chapel fhe had founded, for the
good of her loul, and the fouls of her anceftors and
fuccefTors ; and bequeathed to each of the priefts who
* He left ifTue one daughter, Elizabeth, who was ancedrefs of a
long line of loids Abergavcnny, not yet extinft.
+ Mary Magdalen's chapel, now commonly called 'Spcnfer's
chapd.
[ 38 ]
lliould officiate 2s. to be paid weekly. She alfo con-
firmed all the privileges granted by her ancestors, and
was buried with great funeral pomp, at Tewkefbury,
near the chapel * Ihe had built, at the right hand of
her father, 13th January 1439, (under a carved marble
Hone) by Thomas Pluffbrd, bifhop of Hereford, her
confeflbr ; and the lords William Briftow, abbot of
Tewkeftmry, and John abbot of Winchcomb.
Henry Beauchamp, earl of Warwick fon of
Richard, by Ifabel the heirefs of the Defpenfer family,
was about fourteen years old at his father's death.
He was crowned king of the Ifle of Wight by king
Henry VI. and at the age of nineteen was created duke
of Warwick, and declared premier earl of England.
He had the caftle of Briftol given him, and alfo the
iflands of Guernfey and Jerfey, f and the patronage
of the church and priory of St. Mary Magdalen, of
GoldclirF, J with licence to annex it to the church of
* Her firft hufband, the earl of Worcefter, was buried under
that chapel; but it appears from the infcription, that (he was bu-
ried within the choir, on the right fide (or to the fouth) of her
father, the carl of Gloucefter; who was depofited in the middle of
the choir, under a lamp which burned before the hod, confe-
quently very near the high altar. DUG. MON AST.
-r It is faid that Henry had no more than a reveifionary grant
of the iflands of Guernfey and Jerfey, after the death of Hum.
phrey, duke of Gloucefter ; but he did not furvivc that duke.
J Robert de Chandos, in the reign of king Henry the firft, in
1113, founded a priory at Goldcliff, in Monmouthfhire, the pa-
tron whereof was for many ages in the crown, 'till the fuppreffion
of alien priories, when king Henry VI. granted it to the duke of
Warwick, and (1442) the priory to the abbey of Tcwkefbury.
But we learn that the Cambro-Biilains were fo offended at this
meafure. that they obliged the prior and monks of Tcwkefbury to
L 39 1
Tewkeibury. Henry confirmed all privileges granted
to the church of Tewkeibury by his anceftors ; gave all
the ornaments he wore to make veftments for the
monaftery; and died the llth of June 1446, in the
twenty-fecond year of his age, at his caftle at Hanley,
and was buried in the middle of Tewkeibury choir.
He had iffue by his wife Cecily, daughter of the earl of
Saliibury, one daughter, — Anne, who died in her in-
fancy 3 whereby Anne, his fifter, became his fole heirefs.
Anne was married to Richard Nevil, earl of Salis-
bury, f who now, in right of his wife, fucceeded to the
vaft united inheritance of the Defpenfers and Beau-
champs. On this occafion he was created earl of War-
wick, and generally called The Stout Earl of Warwick,
and King Maker; for king Henry VI. and king Edward
IV. held the crown by turns, as this earl favoured or
oppofed. He was killed at the battle of Barnet Field,
fighting for the houfe of Lancailer, April 14, 1471.
This champion being no more, the decifive and mur-
quit Goldcliff, in 1445, but in the following year they returned.
In the 29 Hen. VI. it was granted to the College at Eaton : but
in i Edw. IV. it was returned to Tewkefbury, and in the 7th
year of the fame reign, again to the College, by which it has been
retained. Goldcliff, 26 Hen. VIII. was rated at 144!. 8s. id.
per annum. Robert de Chandos died in 1120, and was a great
benefactor to this abbey.
See WILLIAMS'S MONMOUTH.
+ This Richard Nevil was defcended from Gilbert de Nevil,
who came into England with William the Conqueror, and whofe
defccndants were earls of Weftmoreland ; but Richard, the father
of this Richard, having married Alice, the daughter and heir of
Thomas de Montacute, earl of Salifbury, he was created carl of
Salifbury.
[ 40 ]
tlerous battle of Tewkefbury, fought on the 4th of M:iy
following, fecured the crown to Edward IV. and pro-
duced a new order of affairs. — A conteft fo dreadful and
fo intimately conne&ed with the hiftory of this place,
demands a particular account, which is thrown into Part
II. that the order of narrative may not here be inter-
rupted.
Edward IV. confirmed all the privileges granted
by his anceftors to Tewkefbury church, as well as the
charter of tithing in the Severn and Avon, granted by
Warwick. After the fall of this renowned earl, Anne,
his couutefs, was forced to abfcond, and was reduced
to great diitrels. King Edward would have feized on
her eftates-had not her daughters (Ilabel and Anne)
been his lilters-in-law; but he put thofe ladies in pof-
fefiion of them all, by a partition of the inheritance
between them, and an a&. of parliament in 14/3, con-
firmed that allotment. Poor countefs Anne was after-
wards taken and thrown into prifon, by her fon-in-law,
king Richard III.
1472. Ifabel, the elder of thofe daughters, mar-
ried George, duke of Clarence, ( brother to king
Edward IV.) and had the manor of Tewkeibury in-
cluded in her {hare. She died in child-bed the 22d of
December 14/6, aged 25, at Warwick, and her body
was brought to Tewkelbury on the 4th day of January
following: the lord John Strenfliam, abbot of Tewkes-
bury, with other abbots in their habits, and the whole
convent, received her body in the middle of the choir,
and the funeral office was performed by the lord abbot
and the reft of the abbots, with the whole convent, in
nine leflbns; afterwards the funeral office was per-
formed by the furTragans of the bifhops of Worcefter
and Landaffe, and by the dean and chaplains of the
[ 41 ]
duke; and the vigils were obferved by the duke's own
family 'till the nest day, which was the vigil of the
Epiphany. The fuffragan of the bifhop of Landaffe *
celebrated the firft mafs of St. Mary, in St. Mary's cha-
pel j the fecond mafs of the Trinity was celebrated by
the lord abbot, at the altar ; the fuffragan of the billiop
of Worceftcr celebrated the third mafs, of eternal reft,
at which Peter Weld, doctor of divinity, and of the
order of the Minors at Worcefter, preached a fermon
in the choir, before the prelates ; and mafs being ended,
the body was left under the herfe, f in the middle of
the choir, for thirty-five days; and thole folemn obfe-
quies were daily performed, during that time, in the
convent. Her body was buried in a vault behind the
high altar, before the door of the virgin Mary's chapel,
and oppofite the door of St. Edmund the martyr's cha-
pel. George, duke of Clarence, who derived from his
wife Ifabel, the title of earl of Warwick and Salisbury,
fuftered, about twelvemonths after, a private execution
in the tower. — The circumftance of his being drowned
in a butt of Malmfey wine, mentioned in moft of our
chronicles, is treated in general as fabulous. He was
buried at Tewkelbury, and left iffue one fon J and one
daughter, — Edward and Margaret.
* Lincoln. ATK.YNS.
i A fabriek reared in the church. Moveablc herfes were not
known 'till long after the diffblution of Monatleries, not even in
the reign of Edw. VI. COLLINS'S PEKR,
"j: Leland fays, George duke of Clarence had another fon, who
was named Richard, and was born in the inonaflcry. He was
poiibned. as 'lis repoited, the year his mother died, 1476,
D
Phntagenet, entitled earl of Warwick,
and heir of Tewkelbury, was feized rind impriloned
by his tyrannic uncle, Richard the third, in the begin-
ning of his reign ; removed to fafer cuftody in the
tower, by his cautions coufin, Henry the feventh ; and
moft inhumanly beheaded, in 1499, t°r a pretended
confpiracy, when about twenty-five years old; the king
having for fome time viewed him with a jealous eye,
as being the only heir male of the houie of York. This
innocent youth had been ftripped of all his inheritance
ten years before, by a refumption which juftice was
faid to demand, in favour of his unfortunate grand-
mother Anne, countefs of Warwick and Salilbury. —
The above-mentioned aft of parliament was repealed,
and by a ftatute, 3 Hen. VII. it was enafted, that all
the eftates, of which that countefs had been difleized,
and which againft the order of Nature, had been (hared
between her daughters, fhould be reftored to the laid
countefs, with power to alien all or any part thereof.
The meaning of this pious aft of reftitution foon ap-
peared ; for the old countefs was obliged, in the very
fame year, to execute a feoffment, whereby flie granted
and conveyed to the king, and his iffue male, in perpe-
tuity, all the reftored eftates, viz. Warwick, and twelve
other manors in Warwickfhire; the city of Worcefter,
Hanley,Upton-upton-Severn, Elmley-Caftle. Wich, and
thirteen other manors in Worcefterfhire; Tewkefbury,
Fairford, and twelve other manors in Gloucefterfhire ;
Glamorgan, &c. in Wales; Walfall, and four other
manors in StafFordftnre ; Barnard-Caftle in the biftiop-
rick of Durham ; confiderable lordftiips and eftates in
fixteen other counties; together with the ifles of Guern-
fey, Jerfey, and Sark. This was a bafe and felfifh ma-
noeuvre of Henry the feventh, unnoticed by his hifto-
rians. Thus he reduced to a ftate of dependence and
[ 43 ]
poverty; the children of the houfe of Clarence, under
pretence of rertitution to their grandmother, and yet
without entrufting power in the hands of the old coun-
tefs ; to whom he afligned the little manor of Satton,
in Warwickfliire, and what further peniion is uncer-
tain, for her meagre maintenance during life.
Margaret, his lifter, was wedded to fir Richard
Pole, and was beheaded 33 Hen. VIII. * upon an act of
attainder, patted againit her for correfponding with her
fon, cardinal Reginald Pole, then declared a reb.1 and
an enemy to his country.
Anne, the youngeft daughter of Richard Nevil,
earl of Saliibury and Warwick, was firll married to
Edward, prince of Wales, fon of king Henry the fixth,
who being taken prifoner at the battle of Tewkeibury,
was murdered by Richard, duke of Glocelter, with
ailirtants. She afterwards married the faid duke of
GLocefter, and had lithe by him, Edward prince of
Wales, who died in 148-1, aged eleven years, and not
long before his mother, who is laid to have been poi-
foned by her hulband Richard, to facilitate his intend-
ed marriage with his niece P^lizabeth, daughter to king
Edward the fourth, and afterwards queen to king
Henry the feventh.
From this time, (1488) the-lordllnp of Tewkes-
bury was annexed to the crown, till 1 Edw. VI. (1547)
when it was granted to fir Thomas Seymour, who held
it till his attainder, when it reverted back again, and
continued vefted in the crown till March 22, lO'Ot), the
* For particulars relative to the diffolution of the Abbey of
Tewkefbury in this reign, fee Part II,
[ 44 ]
feventh of James I. when that monarch, in confedera-
tion of the fum of 24531 7s. 4\d. by his letters patent
then dated, granted later alia, to the corporation of
Tewkeibury, the manor and borough of this place, and
the fame now remains in their pofleflion.
ABBEY CHURCH — INSCRIPTIONS AND COATS OF
ARMS.
Here in the rich, the honour'd, fam'd and great,
See the falfe fcale of happiuefs complete. POPE.
JL HE foundation of the Abbey, and its
fucceflTive poiTeiTors, have already been traced. It ac-
quired great and deferved celebrity among thofe efta-
blifhments, which pious zeal, or gloomy fuperftition,
raifed to propitiate the Supreme; and at the time of
its diffolution, it was rich and flourifliing. But when
providence converted the vileft paffions that could dif-
grace the prince, into inftruments of good to his peo-
ple, and to the caufe of pure religion, this pile was de-
voted to ruin with other ftrudtures of the lame kind.
Indeed, according to Willis, its deftruction was moft
rapid and complete, having been burnt down by the
king's vifitors, in revenge, as it is faid, for the ineffec-
tual oppolition they at firft experienced from the monks.
In this conflagration the cloifters, abbacy, chapter-
houfe, the lady chapel, and other appendages were
confumed.
At prefent there are few veftiges of the ancient
grandeur, the gateway alone excepted, which is large
[ 45 ]
and handfome, riling to a considerable height, and em-
battled at top. Willis, in his View of Mitred Abbeys,
calls this the prifon houfe j but it is uncertain whether
it ever was applied to that purpofe. The arch is finely
proportioned, and is much admired by connoifleurs.
it now lies iu a ftate of unregarded dilapidation.
But though the abbey was doomed to fall, the li-
berallity and piety of the inhabitants, to whom the body
of the abbey church belonged, prompted them to refcue
the chancel, fteeple, bells, and church -yard, from pro-
fanation and ruin ; for it appears by a grant made 34
Hen. VIII. that they purchafed thofe appendages at the
expenfe of 4831.
Thus the church was faved ; but the revenues,
which in part at leaft ought to have been applied to the
decent maintenance of a minifter, were wholly alien-
ated ; and for fome time this was only an inconfiderable
curacy. However it is now prefented to by the crown
as a vicarage j and by various augmentations it has rifen
to near 30Ol. per ann. though it has neither parfonage
houfe nor glebe. The prefent incumbent is the Rev.
Robert Knight, who fucceeded the late worthy and
lamented Rev. James Tatterfall.
This church, which is included in the deanry of
Winchcomb, Hands on the S. \V. fide of the town, near
the entrance from Glocefter and Cheltenham ; and was
confecrated, according to the beft information, by The-
ulph or Theowold, a prebendary of Bajeux in Nor-
mandy, and the bifhops of Hereford, Glamorgan and
Dublin, in 1121.
It is built in the form of a crofs, upon the inter-
fe&ion of which ftands the tower, fupported by four
C 46 ]
arches; and is a molt magnificent and beautiful edifice.
From its maffive cylindrical pilhrs, femicircular arches,
zig-zag mouldings, and other decorations, it appears to
he of the Saxon or early Norman era of architecture.
The tower * is alfo in the lame noble ftile, except the
pinnacles, which were added about the commencement
of the laft century.
The Dimenjions of this Pile are as follow :
Length from eaft to weft 300 feet, f
of the great crofs aifle 12O
Breadth of the choir and fide aifles . . 70
weft front IOO
Height from the area to die roof . . 12O
of the tower 132
The ufual entrance is on the north fide, through a
lofty and fpacious portal, inclofed by gates of iron rails,
over which is a much -defaced image of the Virgin
Alary, the patronefs of the church. The arch which
forms the weft entrance, is fingularly beautiful, and
much admired ; and from this the internal view is awe-
fully grand; but the fublime effect of the entire per-
fpe&ive is diminiftied, by the pofition of the organ,
which intercepts it : the only defect, perhaps, which
the eye of tafte can perceive in the modern embellim-
raents.
* According to Leland, part of the religious edifices at
Tewkefbury were built with ftone brought from Prcilbury near
Cheltenham. He alfo adds, that the materials of the tower
•were laid to have been imported from Caen in No'mandy,
+ Before the demolition of the Virgin Mary or Lady Chapel,
the building was nearly 100 feet longer.. ' , •
[ 47 ]
The area confifts of a grand principal aiile or nave,
a tranfept or crofs aifle, and two fpacious fide aides,
which are fomewhat lower than the body, and feparated
from the nave by two rows of maffive pillars. There
is alfo a handfome femicircular aifle furrounding the
chancel, from the north to the fouth ends of the tran-
fept, in which are the vetlry (where the abbey records
were formerly kept,) feveral receffes, and chapels, dedi-
cated to the founder, benefactors, and other perfons
of difti notion, and fome Gothic tombs, of fplendid
execution.
The pewing of the church was till lately extremely
irregular, and very unworthy of fuch a noble fabric;
but, by the munificence and public fpirited exertions of
the inhabitants and the reprefentatives of the borough,
aided by liberal donations, that defe6t has been wholly
removed ; and the part appropriated to divine worfhip,
fitted up in a ftile of fingular elegance, yet perfectly
according with the architecture of the building, and
the purpofe for which it was defigned. The unifor-
mity, convenience and difpofition of the feats, the pe-
culiarly light and elegant conftruction of the pulpit,
and the tout enfemble of the choir, challenge admiration,
and almofl defy competition.
The defigns for thefe improvements were the pro-
duction of our very ingenious townfman, Mr. Edward
Edgecumbe now refident at Ellefmere in Shropfhire, to
whom the Editor owes many acknowledgements for his
friendly communications; and were carried into exe-
cution by that able architect, Mr. J. Keyte of Kidder-
minfter. Their performances here will be a lafting
teftimony of the talents of both, in their refpective
profeflions.
[ 48 ]
The chancel, which is now included in the choir,
is fupported by fix pillars, over which are feven large
windows of painted glafs, charged with coats of arms,
effigies of the earls of Glocefter, &c. *
The organ now placed over the entrance of the
choir, as already- mentioned, was firft ere6ted by the
parilliioners in 1737. It originally belonged to a col-
lege in Oxford; but its powers have been recently in-
creafed ; and for beauty and tone, is not unworthy of
its defti nation.
The entire roof of this venerable fabric is vaulted
with ftone, highly ornamented by the tracery of its
ribs, the interfeftions of which are erabelliihed by car-
vings— whimfical, emblematical, and icriptural. The
external covering is of lead.
On the outfide of the fouth wall is a very beautiful
arch now clofed, which opened a communication be-
tween the fouth aifle and the abbacy and cloifters.
From the ftile of the remaining arches in the fide walls,
the latter appear to have been extremely handfome.
* The two oppofite windows at the entrance are divided into
four compartments each, in which are the figures, in armour, of
eight earls of Glocefter, diftinguiflied by their arms. In the next
window on the right, is the prophet Daniel ; and on the left, Je-
remiah. In the middle window king Solomon; next to him on
the right, the prophet Joel; on the left a fcutcheon per pale, i.
Argent, a. lien, rampant fable. 2. Quarterly argent and gates, in the
zdand %d a fret Or, over all on a bend fable three efcatlops oftkejir/it
for le Defpenfer. There are befides in thefe windows, i. The
arms of the Clares, Or, three chevrons gules, 2. Thofe of the ah.
bey Gules, a crofs Or. 3 Argent, Jive bars azure. 4. Barry und\
Argent and Gules, a baton in bend azure, for D' Amory. 5. A lion fable
crown'd Or- 6. Azure, a lion rampant gai dant Or, for Fitz-Hamon.
7. Gules, ten bezants, for le /.ouch.
C 49 ]
On the north fide of the aifle furrounding the
chancel, is a large building, for many years occupied as
the public grammar fchool, and which appears lo have
once opened into the chancel. This may be reafonably
conjectured to have been the chapter-houfe. Its ftone
pillars, its vaulted ceiling and mural arches, retain fuf-
ficient veftiges of their original beauty, though in many
places very much mutilated and defaced.
It is farther proper to add, that the tower contains
eight mufical bells and a fet of chimes. The church-
yard is of confiderable extent, and ornamented with
walks, {haded by rows of chefnut and other trees.
Celebrated as this church is for its antiquity and
beauty, it is no lefs venerable for the duft of the prince-
ly and the great, which it enclofes within its walls.
Many of the monuments, and particularly the infcrip-
tions, have been loft by criminal negligence, or defaced
by civil commotions; but enough remain to prove, that
it is flill pre-eminently diftinguimed in this refpeft, as
the following notices will fliew.
Antunt Monuments, Inf crip lions, &c,
Robert Fitz-Hamon (who built this church) was
buried in the chapter-houfe, in 1107, but removed in to
the church in 1241, where his bones were laid in a
tomb of grey marble, * which had bratfes on the top,
* During the late improvements in the chinch, this tomb was
opened ; at the head was found a Hone about two ieet and a half
in length, which w*s hollowed to receive a circular (Vieei of lead,
inclofing one arm and two thigh bones, moil undoubtedly thole
of the founder.
E
C 50 ]
with his figure and ornaments, long fince torn off.
A b!)a^. Parker inclofed the tomb in a chapel, now
Itanding on the north fide of the. chancel, and round
the top were thefe words, not legible now :
//; hac capella jacet dns. Robertas fillus Hamenis, bujus
loci Fund at or.
In this chapel lies lord Robert, fon of Hamon, of this
place the Founder-
Near the above is Mary Magdalen's, or Spenfer's
Chapel, with a very beautiful carved roof, apparently
fupported by fix Imall marble pillars, of which two
only are entire. This curious chapel was ornamented
with delineations of our Saviour and his Apoitles, and
with numerous coats of arms, but they are now nearly
obliterated. Round the upper part of the wall, within
and without, is written —
Mementote domine Jfabelle le Defpenfer comittijfe de Warrf-
luick que hanc capellam fundauit in bonorum Beatts Marie
Magdalene et obiit Londiniis apud Minores Anno Domini
MCCCCXXXIX diefanfli Jobannis euangslijlx etfepulta in
cboro in dextram patrisfui cujus animx parcat Deus Amen.
In memory of lady Ifabella le Defpenfer, countefs of War-
wick, who founded this chapel in honour of the bleffed Mary
Magdalen; and died at London, in the Minories, on the day of
Saint John the Evangelift, A. D. 14391 and was buried in the
choir at the rigb- hand of her father, on whofe Soul may God
have mercy. Amen.
On the fame fide, under a canopy of very curious
arched work of four ftories, gradually diminishing,
and finifliing at top in one arch, highly ornamented in
the Gothic tafte, are the effigies of lord and lady De-
fpenfer, ( generally underftood to be the duke and
duchefs of Clarence,) lying at full length, and iculp-
tured in white marble.
[ 51 ]
Oh the fouth fide of the chancel is the chapel of
the Holy Trinity ; erected to the memory of Edward
Defpenler, by Elizabeth his wife. His effigy in armour
is placed on the top, in a fupplicating pofture, having
the arms of the Defpenfers painted on the furcoat.
The roof of this chapel, and that of the founder's
are extremely neat ; the walls of which, no doubt, as
well as thole of the other chapels, were once highly
ornamented. But the ravages of time, and the depre-
dations of taftelefs workmen, have nearly defaced the
whole.
A coffin, formed of a iingle ftone, was fome few
years fince dug up near this chapel, and is fuppoled to
have been the receptacle for the body of this lord De-
fpenler ; which, when found, was in a itate of excel-
lent preservation.
In the aifle furrounding the chancel, and oppofite
the monument of lord and lady Defpenfer, under ano-
ther arch of hollow work, is the tornb of Guy"D'Gbrien>
fecond hufband of lady Defpenler, with his figure re-
cumbent, in armour, with this beating : on the right
three piles en point, and on the left, three lozenges ; tin;
piles being the arms of the Obrien's. and the lozenges
of the Montacutes.
Near the above, and almoft oppofite the chapel
called faint Edmund's the martyr, under a monument
of arched work, is the figure of an emaciated monk,
lying on a fhroud. This monument is covered with a
large profuiion of rich Gothic ornaments, and is faid to
have been creeled by John Wich, alias "VVakeman, the
latl abbot of Tewkelbury, and the iirft bilhop of Glo-
cetfer.
C 52 ]
In the fame aiile, in a little chapel near that of the
Holy Trinity, lies, as it is faid, Robert Fortington, 12th
:ihbot of this place, who died in 1253. Over it are
thefe arms carved in ftone, A chevron bttween tbree ef-
callops, over all a palmer sjiaff in pale.
Willis fays, " under this arch are the effigies of a
man lying in full proportion, which is faid to have been
for Robert Fortingtou, abbat of this place, "-.-but no
figure is now exifting, though it is probable there was
one.
Nearly oppofite to the above, is an ancient altar-
monument of grey marble, on the top of which is a
crofs carved; and round the verge, which was inlaid
with brafs, is this infcription :
lOpENNSS. 3BB3S. pVIVS. LOCI.
JOHN, ABBOT OF THIS PLACE.
In the fouth wall near the veftry door, is the tomb
of Alan, one of the abbots of this monaftery. On the
weft end is infcribcd — " Alanus Domiaus Abbas."
On the other fide of the fame door, is another
tomb or monument of an abbot ; but there is no infcrip-
tion to inform us who lie was, or when he prefided.
This monument is richly beautified with carved wrok.
On the fouth fide of the church, under an arch, is
n monument, which we apprehend has been erroneoufly
taken for a tomb in memory of the duke of Somerfet,
who was beheaded after the battle of Tewkefbury, in
1471 ; as its bearings are evidently the arms of the
Clares, earls of Gloceller, fome one of which, it is pro-
cable, was interred below.
[ 53 ]
Dire&ly oppofite, on the north fide, under an arch,
is the effigy of lord Wenlock ( who was killed by the
dnke of Somerfet, in the battle of Tewkefbury) reclin-
ing on a tomb ; bearing on the fliield, a chevron between
three blackmoor'i beads, Leland tells us that his body was
removed to foms other place : he is faid to have been
gentleman of the horfe to the prince of Wales.
Under the tower, is a brafs plate, to perpetuate the
memory of the unfortunate Edward, prince of Wales
(only fon of king Henry VI.) who was murdered after
the battle of Tewkelbury, by the adherents of king
Edward IV, — It is uncertain where this prince was in-
terred ; but hiftory informs us that his body was thrown
into a hole in common with the other victims of the
battle, who were buried in the abbey.
The following infcription is taken from a brafs
plate on a flone in the body of the church :
In hoc Tumulo fepulta jacet Amia uxor Johannis Wiatt Tewkcs-
burienfis Generofi qua; fpiritum exhalavit xxv Augus Ao. Dni.
In cujus obitum verficulos perlegito
fubfequentes.
A : A me difce mori, mors eft fors omnibus una ;
M : Mortis et efca fui mortis et cfca fores.
I : In terram ex terra terreftiis mafia meabis ;
E : Et capiet cineresurna parata cinis.
V : Vivere vis cjelo terrenam tcmnito vitam ;
V : Vita pijs mors eft, mors mihi vita pis,
] : Jeiuncs vigiles, ores, credafq. potcnti,
A : Ardua Fac i non efl mollis ad Aitra via,
T : Te fcriptura vocat, te icnno ecclefia mater;
T : Teq. vocat fponfus fpiritus atque pater.
Thus Literally Translated :
In this tomb lies buried Amie, the wife of John Wistt, of
Tewkelbury, gentleman, who breathed out her fpirit, the a^ih of
Augult -— — . (the year effaced).
Upon whofc dcceafc read the following Veifes*
[ 54 J
From me learn to die. Death is the common lot of all.
Death's prey I have been, the prey of Death thou wilt be;
To earth, from earthf an earthly mafs thou mull return ;
And thy afhes the afhy urn fhall receive.
Wouldft thou live in heaven, defpife the life of earth.
Life to the pious is Death. A pious death is life to me.
Faft, watch, pray, believe in the omnipotent.
Arduous 'tis true; but the way to heaven is not eafy.
The fcriptnre, the word, the church call tbee;
The bride, the fpirit, and the Father invite thee.
In the body of the church, between two pillars, is
an old ftone, as under:
0
DYSVX : D3
w
r
3
Q
-i
3
In Englifh,
Leger de Paw Hcs here : God on his Sou! have mercy.
C 55 ]
In the aiflc furrounding the chancel, and juft be-
hind the altar, is the chapel of faint Edmund the Mar-
tyr. The legend, reporting his being (hot with arrows,
beheaded, and a wolf defending his head from other
bealls, it is laid was formerly defcribed in fret-work on
the top of the chapel ; but no traces of it remain.
An ancient Monument, tzo<w deftroyed.
Richard de Clare the fecond, was buried, in 1262,
in the chancel of Tevvkelbury abbey, where his wife
Maud ere6ted over him a very ftately tomb, ornamented
with gold, filver, and precious ftones, the fword and
fpurs which he wore when alive, and other valuable
materials. On this tomb was a large image of the earl
in iilver, and the following epitaph :
Hie pudor Hippoliti, Paridis gena. fenfus Ulyflis,
pietas Heftoris ira, jacet.
Which is thus tranflated by Weever, in his Funeral
Monuments :
Chaftc Hippolite and Paris faire; Ulyfles wife and fly;
kind, fierce Heftor, here jointly entomb'd !ye«
A Seledion of the Modern Monuments and Infcriptions,
In the aifle furrounding the chancel.
Arms, within a lozenge, Party per pale, 1. Stafford,
Or, a chevron gules, a mulltt for difference. 2. Quarterly,
1 ft «»</ 4th, three bars, for Stanford, 2tl«W3d, Sabl?t
[ 56 ]
a cbrvrcn between three flag's hornt with the fcatys argent,
for Cocks.
Here lies the hon. Elianor Stanford, daughter of
Edward Stanford, Efq. of Sawford in the County of
Warwick, by his wife Kathaiine Cocks of Xoithey in
the County of Glocefler. She was the wife of the
Hon. Francis Stafford, Son of William Lord Vifcount
Stafford and Lady Mary CountefTe of Stafford his Wife,
defcended from the antient Princes, the Staffords
Dukes of Buckingham and Earls of Stafford, &c. She
had iffue by him one Son namfd Henry, who puts this
Stone upon her, in Memory of a Pious wife and tender
mother. She departed this life the 26th day of October
Anno Dni. 1707.
Arms, Azure, two bars argent between three lions faf-
fatit in pale Or.
Here lies Frances fometime mod tender wife of
Edmond Boylflon, Gen. and cldeft daughter of
Henry Minterne Efq. who dyed the 8th Day of
February 1656 : astat fuae : 28.
With Charles, third Son to the faid Edmond and
Frances, who died the 6th of March 1656.
She was the Mirror of her Sex
for vertue and true pietie
A patterne faire and cleere Index
for meeknefs and Sobriety.
God grant vs all whilft glafs doth run
to live in Chrift as flie hath done.
Argent^ fix Jimcels rampant , fablt , 3, 1, 1.
Here lies the body of Lieutenant Wm. Felton. Gent,
late of Gen. Shirley's Regiment of Foot, who departed
this Life Aug. 15, 1762, Aged 27.
Farwe II rain world, I've known enough tf-thee,
And value hot what then can/I Jay of me,
Thyjmifei I court not, nor thy frowns I fear,
All's one to me, my head liet quiet here.
[ 57 ]
Party per pale, 1 . Argent, a lion paffant gules, lartgued
azure, on three bats ivaiy azure ; on a chief of the laft
three bezants, for Hankin>. * 2. Gules, on a crofsflory,
argent pierced, twelve efcaHofts, three on each extremity
palewajs fable, for Humphreys.
D'Avcaant Hankias Efq.
Obit 6th Oft, 1782,
/Etatis 54
Arms, Gules, tivo dcmi lions pajjant guardant, Or.
Here lyeth the body of Edward Hatch Gent, who de-
parted this Life the gth day of January 1667.
The noble parts of him who here doth lye
In Law and Learning and of Policie
And with all virtues which from heaven are fent
Doe well deferve a Golden Monument
Oh cruell death could nothing thee afuagc
To fparc with us the Darling of our age.
Ecce Vcnio cito.
i
On a brafs plate in the church.
1. llree lozenges conjoined infefs, on that in tie centre a,
martlet for difference. 2. As Roberts.
Elianor Freeman.——.
A Virgin blofom in her May
Of Youth and Venues, turn'd to clay;
* Robert and Thomas De Hankins, fons of Frederic De Han-
kins of Mayon Cafllc in Xormandy, came over with dukf Wil-
lum, Anno 1066, who, for their noble Cervices done in that, and
other warlike aftions, were honoured and rewarded. Robert he
knighted and made governor of his Caftle of Cailifle in Cumber-
land, a place of ^reat truft, and gave Thomas an ellatc near White-
haven, in the fame county, and alfo this coat of irms, to them and
then pollerity, to bear in memory of the fame forever.
F
[ 58 ]
Rich Earth! accomplifht with thofe graces
That aciorne Saints for Heavenly places!
Let not Death boa It his conquering power;
Shce'le rife a Staire, that fell a flower;
— — dfceafrd May the 2<i
An. 1653, aged 21.
COATS OF ARMS FOUND ABOUT THE CHUKCH.
In the late robing room, Azure, a c rofs patonce be-
tivecnfi-ve martlets Or; fuppofed to be the arms of the
kings of the weft Saxons; and leem to he old coats re-
moved fromfome other place and fixed here.
Agninft the wall, at the end of the chancel and
other parts, are feen three crowns, fuppofed to be the
arms of the eaft Angles.
Robert, earl of Glocefter, baftard fon of Hen I.
bore for his nrms three rejis gules in afield or, as may be
ieen on the breaft plate of this earl in the chancel win-
dows. It is faid, in Sandford's Genealogical Hiftory,
that thefe arms were antiently painted on the covering
of a tomb of Gilbert de Clare, in Tewkelbury church,
as deriving his defcent from the heir general of this
Robert ; but no fuch tomb or covering is now exifting,
though upon feveral figures dug up in the ruins, thefe
arms have been found. They are now given by the
Granville's, as defcending from a brother of Robert
Fitz-Hamon.
Richard de Clare, earl of Glocefter and Hertford,
gave for arms, three chevrons gales in a field or, as maybe
Teen in many places about the church. It is faid by
Sandford, that a label of three points argent, each charged
a lanton, gules, was a coat attributed to the Clares,
and placed on the firft quarter with the chevrons, as
appeared on the tomb of Gilbert de Clare in Tewkes-
bury church.
The lord Hugh de Audley, * who married Mar-
garet, the fecond daughter of Gilbert de Clare the fe-
eond, bore for his arms, Gales, a fret or, and a border,
argent, to be feen in the church.
Richard Beauchamp, fifth enrl of Warwick, fecond
huiband to Ifabel, youngeft daughter of Thomas De-
fpenfer, gave for his arms a fejs between Jix crofted .
At the weft front of the church, which is adorned
with feveral ihields and carvings, are thele arms :
1 . Gules, a lion rampant regardant, or.
2. In a lozenge Or, a Jefs <vairy between jix labels of
three points, fable.
3. In a lozenge, (effaced )
4. Gules, a crofs ragule, or.
5. Or, a fffs <vairy between Jix labels of tbree points, fable.
6. Gules, afahier, argent.
7. Per bend, fable and or; a lion rampant, counter clanged.
Under the weft window within the church:
1 . In a lozenge, Or, on a bend inter two cottifes, gules, an
efcallop, impaling, Gules a bend, or. Tracey of Stan-
way impaling
2. Under a mitre, Argent, two keys infaltier, tie dexter,
or, furmountedoftbejinifter, argent.
3. In a lozenge, Gules, a dexter band coiife, argent, on a
chief 'of ' tbe fecond, three cocks oj the jirjl. Hancock of
* The lord Hugh de Audley was buried at Tewkefbury, on
the north fide of the High Altar, in 13^8. In his wiie's right he
was call of Glocefter. Vide p.
[ 60 ]
Twyning, impaling Or, a fefs wavy between fix
labels of three points, fable.
4. Asthelaft paternal coat, impaling Gules, a fefs vairy,
argent and azure, inter three mullets, argent. Han-
cock of Twyning, impaling Baugh of Twyning.
5. Azure, a lion rampant, argent. Pool of Salperton.
In the north eaft window.
1. A lion fable crowned, Or, impaling, 2. the arms of
the Defpenfers.
This was the armorial bearing of the Morleys.
Thomas Morley married Anne, the eldeft daughter of
Edward Defpenfer, earl of the Ifle of Wight and of
Devonfliire.
TOPOGRAPHICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN
TRADE AND GOVERNMENT.
. Where amicably join
The filter floods, and with their liquid arms,
Greeting, embrace.
SOMMER VILLE.
rip
JL EWKESBURY, whofe remote origin
we have confefled to elude our enquiries, and whofe ge-
neral lituation has already been mentioned, is a hand-
fome and populous town. It confifts of three principal
ftreets, well paved and lighted, exclufive of feveral
lanes and alleys. The High-ftreet is of great length,
very fpacious and elegant, and leads from the centre of
the town towards Worcefter. Church-ftreet, which is
little inferior in beauty or extent, lies towards the Glo-
cefler and Cheltenham roads ; and Barton-ftreet, which
13 the third, points towards Evefham.
C 61 ]
The ehief lanes are Quay-lane and St. Mary's-lane.
Thefe, as well as the alleys, are full of inhabitants } and
the whole population cannot be computed at lefs than
4000 fouls.
The general ftile of building fhews no inconfider-
able degree of opulence. The houfes are chiefly of
brick; ftone being a fcarc- material in this vicinity.
Moftofthe old wooden habitations are now pulled
down, and modem edifices erefted in their room ; but
fome fpecimens of the ancient mode of ftru&ure ftill
remain.
In the year 1/86 an acl; of parliament was obtained
for paving and lighting the ftreets, and removing en-
croachments and nuifances. * This has contributed
much to the beauty and convenience of the town, and
hasinfufed a fpirit of improvement into the inhabitants,
which is conftantly displaying itfelf more and more.
The furrounding roads, which were formerly at
times almoft impaffable for carriages, are very much
improved; and large fums are expended on their con-
ftant repairs, to which the turnpike tolls are now ade-
quate.
To the eaft of Tewkefbury, ran the Ikeneld-ftreet
Roman way, as appears from Leland's ErTay on the
Courfes of thofe ftupendous works of public utility, but
no traces of it now appear.
The foil in the town and its environs, is chiefly a
deep rich loam. The country round is agreeably di-
* To the exertions of Neaft Havard, Efq. the late town
clerk of this borough, it is principally indebted for the benefit
of this act.
[ 62 ]
verfified with high (loping hills and deep vallies, fertile
meadows and fine dreams. Som: of the landscapes in
the vicinity are truly delightful, and comprize the Mal-
vern, Bredon, Stanway, and Cotefwold hills, with the
rich and fpacious vales that lie between.
Contiguous to the town is a large traft of land, cal-
led the Ham, which contains nearly 200 acres of as rich
meadow land as any in the kingdom. It is occafionally
tiled as a race ground; is commonable to the freemen
and occupiers of front houfes, from Allhallow-tide to
Candlemas, and is the property ot Thomas Dowdefwell,
Eiq. of Pull-Court, and others. Being lurrounded by
water, it is very fubject to inundations from the fre-
quent rife of the Severn; and the fubfiding of thofe ricli
particles of earth which are carried by the ftream, ren-
ders the ufe of manure wholly unneceflary.
Indeed the town itfelf is almoit furrounded by
water. The accefs is by three bridges. That over the
Avon is a ftone ftrufture of confiderable length. * The
Swilgate and Carron have alfo commodious bridges
thrown over their ftreams.
Tewkefbury was formerly famous for its manufac-
tures: It had once a confiderable mare in the cloathing
* " Thcr is a grcate budge of ftone," fays Leland, " at the
northe ende of the town, and ther a litle above the bridge Avon
brekith into a armcs. Yet the bridge is fo large that both cum
under it. The right arrne cummith into Severne withyn a flite
fhot of the bridge, and at the pointe of this arme is the town key
for fhippes caulled Ficardcs.
1 he other atme cummith down by the fide of the towne and
the abbay: leaving it on the efte, and fo patting harde ther by
Holme Caftelle goeth into Severne."
[ 63 ]
bufinefs, * but that trade has long fince been loft. It
was likewife remarkable for its milliard balls, which
being very pungent, have occalioned this proverb, ap-
plied to a (harp fellow, He Inks astfbe lived on Te-ivkss-
bury m'iftard; and Sliakelpeare, fpeakiog of one with a
fad, fevere countenance, uies the limile, As tbick as
Tewkelbury miiftard. The chief manufacture at prefeut,
i flocking frame-work knitting, particularly cotton;
but, if. likewife carries on a considerable trade in malt-
ing, and has fome nailing bulinefs.
Here are two weekly markets, on Wednefday and
Saturday, for pigs, theep, grain, butter poultry, and
butcher's meat; and feven annual fairs, viz. the fecond
Monday in March, ( heretofore the feventh of the fame
month )— rirft Wednelday in April O. S. — May 14 —
June 22— September 4 — October 1O — and, the firft
Wednefday in December O S. — for cattle and pedlary.
B.Mides thefe, there are two ftatute fairs, called mops,
for the hiring of men and women fervants — the Wed-
nelday before old Michaelmas-day, and the Wednefday
after.
Tevvkefbury is an antient borough, governed by
twenty-four principal burgelles, who (with twenty-
four amftants) have an internal government or confti-
tution, independent of the juftices for the county.
From thefe are annually elected, two bailiffs and four
juftices, who with the recorder, are the ruling magis-
trates of this corporation.
* Two pieces of broad cloth, one fcai let and the other crim-
fon in grain, were lent from hence as prefents; one to his majeily
king Georgeihe firft, when eleftorof Hanover; and the other to
his majefty king Geoige the fecond ; which were molt gracioufly
accepted. Valued forty. five (hillings a yard.
It was firft incorporated by charter, I7tl) of Eliza-
beth, by the name of the bailiffs, bur/effes, and com-
munity of the borough of Tewkefburyj and king
James I. in the feventh year of his reign, granted them
other charters, which were furrendered under the com-
mon feal of the corporation, to king James II. who re-
incorporated them the fecond year of his reign, by the
name of the mayor, aldermen, and common-council,
but there were no mayor or officers chofen by virtue of
that new charter; and the government of the tov/n, as
a corporation, totally ceafed till the thirteenth year of
king William III. when the prefent charter was ob-
tained.
Two members are fent to parliament from this bo-
rough, chofen by the freemen and proprietors of free-
hold, houfes, who, at this time amount to about five
hundred. The bailiffs are the returning officers.
March 23, 7 James I. 1609, The town firft
obtained the privilege of fending reprefentatives to
parliament ; and Sir Dudley Digges was one of the
firft members for this place. The prefent are, James
Martin and Chriftopher Codrington, Efqrs.
The amufements of a country town cannot be fup-
pofed to be very diversified. In the winter feafon there
are card and dancing affemblies ; and, that which, above
all, evinces the fuperior tafteand good fenfe of the town
and neighbourhood is, the eftablifliment of two Read-
ing Societies. Here is alfo a bowling green, the fitu-
ation of which is remarkably pleafant.
The inns furnifh excellent accommodations for
travellers. The principal are, the Swan in High-ftreet,
the Hop-Pole, Church-ftreet, and the Star-and-Garter
in Barton-ftreet.
I 65 ]
Di (Tenters of various denominations have their
refpe&ive places of worfhip in this town.
The" Independents' meeting-houfe ftands near the
upper-end of Barton-ftreet.
The Anabaptifb' meeting is in an alley near the
lower-end of Church-ftreet.
The Quakers' meeting ftan<ls in St. Mary's Lane.
There is alfo a meeting houfe of the Methodiffo, in
Tolfey Lane. Thefe are all plain edifices.
Formerly too there was a Jews' fynagogue, but its
exact fite cannot be determined. No jew however has
refided here for leveral years. Leland fays, their
place of woruYip was near the hermitage; but both are
now unknown. *
* Great number of this people refided in En-land, during the
reijin of Edward the Confeflbr. William the Conqueror, and
his fon Rufus, granted them feveral privileges. Henry II. allow-
ed them a burial place on the outfide of every city, before which
they were obliged to carry their de^d from every part of the
kingdom to the only place of interment allowed them, near Lon-
don. Thus encouraged, the Jews fettled in every city and
trading-town in England, until growing, by trade and ufury,
exceeding rich, their wealth excited the envy of both prince and
people; who, as often as they could find an excufe for that pur-
pofe, plundered them without remorle In i R. I. no lels
than 1500 of tliel'e milerablc people were maffacrcd at York, be-
fidcs great numbers in other places, who iell by the hands of an
infatuated and brutal populace. Notwithstanding ihefe feveie
outrages, they foon became ajrain very numerous in ciiliercnt parts
of the kingdom; and during the diftnrbances in :h'e reign of
Henry III. they had, by bribing the king's council, been ad-
mitted to all the privileges of chrifHan natives; they pure haffd
houies, lands, and manors; fat injuries; enjoyed fei'in and the.
G
C 63 1
There are evident veftiges of a church or chapel
having antiently flood in St. Mary's lane; but no records
inform us of the time of its erection or demolition.
Here was alfo a large ftable for the king's horfes,
as antiquaries inform us, of which no traces are left.
Inedited half-pence or tradefmen's tokens are not
unfrequently found about the town; the different in-
icriptions and devices of which, fhow them to have
been the particular coinage of individual traders, refi-
dents of the borough*.
Tewkefbury has had the honour of giving title to
feveral noble perfons. There was a William earl of
Tewkefbury, in the reign of Henry I. Sir Henry Ca-
pel, brother to the earl of Effex, was created baron of
wardfhip of cbriflian heirs, together with the right of prefenta-
tion to livings. But in the fucceeding reign an aft was paffed,
to difqualify all jews from holding fee or freehold, and prevent
their lending money on ufury to chriftians, under the fevereft
penalties. Soon after, great numbers of them were executed,
for diminifhing the coin of this kingdom ; and in the year 1290,
a proclamation was made for feizing all their eftates, and the
whole community was for ever baniihed the kingdom, to the
number of 16,511.
* It appears, that from the reign of queen Elizabeth, to that
of king Charles II. tradefmen coined fmall monies for the conve-
nience of trade, in lead, tin, copper, or biafs : and every trader
that iflued this kind of fpecie, was obliged to take it again when
offered to him* Therefore, in confiderable towns, where many
forts were current, tradefmen kept forting boxes, into which
they put the money of individuals; and at a convenient time, it
was frnt them to be exchanged. In this manner it continued
'till 1672, when Charles II. having ftruck half-pence and
farthings fuffkient for the exigencies of trade, the nunmorum
li were fupeifedcd, and no longer ufcful ncr current.
C C7 ]
Tewkefbury by king William III.; and the electoral
prince of Hanover, afterwards king George. I. in 1706,
was created baron of Tewkeibury, in the county of
Glocefter, by queen Anne.
PUBLIC STRUCTURES: TOWN HALL — MARKET PLACE —
FREE GRAMMAR SCHOOL, &C.
Town Hall.
T
A ILL within a few years, the centre ot
the town was occupied by a building called iheTolfey,
or Town Hall, and two dwelling houies adjoining, very
old and of mean appearance, and fo fituated as to render
the paflage for carriages from Chureh-ftreet into High-
ftreet, very inconvenient, and fometimes dangerous.
But the liberality of Sir William Codrington, Bart, one
of the late worthy reprefentatives in parliament, enabled
the corporation to remove thofe buildings, fo that the
fpace on which they flood, now forms a noble opening,
an^ adds greatly to the beauty of the ftreets. Nor did
his'generofity flop here— at an expenle of more than
twelve hundred pounds, he creeled a new Town-Hall,
in High-ftreet, and prefented it to the Corporation.
This itruclure was finifhed in 1/88. The ground-
floor is chiefly appropriated for a hall, where the quar-
ter feffions are held. The principal ftory confitts of a
handlbme banqueting or ball-room, of large dimennons,
ornamented with a portrait of the founder, painted by
Mr. Beechey (now Sir William Beechey, Knt.) ; and of
a drawing room, ufed as a council-chamber, where the
corporation meet.
G2
C 63 ]
Adjoining the hall, is the town clerk's office, in
which the public bufinefs of the borough is t ran laded.
Market Place.
The markets of Tewkefbury were formerly held
under an open part of the old town-hall ; but that edi-
fice being removed, a commodious market-place has
been lately erected, at the upper end of the Church-
It reel, at the joint expenfe of twenty fubfcribers ; to
whom (in confederation of their having erected fucli
building! a leaie has been granted, by the corporation,
of the tolls for ftallage, for the term of ninety-nine
years, at the end of which term, the building and all the
profits of the market, are to revert to the corporation.
This market is well frequented, and extremely well
fupplied with all the neceflaries of life.
'Ibe Houfe of Indujlry,
Is a large brick building, well adapted for its
deftination'j and is eligibly fituated on Holme Hill,
near the entrance of the town from Glocefter and Chel-
tenham. It contains numerous apartments, and we
truft it will ever be managed on principles conducive
to the health, convenience, and morals of the poor j
to eniure which important obie6ts, the vigilant and un-
remitting attention of the Directors is indifpenfibly
requifite.
Free Grammar ScbooL
The free Grammar School, ftands contiguous to the
north end of the abbey church, and con fifts only of one
apartment. In the charter, granted to this borough, by
king William, it is called the fchool of William Fer-
rers, on account of his having been a principal bene-
factor to it. The bailiffs, jultices, chamberlain, and
C 69 }
town-clerk, for the time being, are the governors, and1
the llev. William ProlTer is the prelent matter, with a
falary of 401. per annum. The beys are elected by the
governors, who are incorporated by the charter.
Chanty School.
The right honourable lady Dowager Capel, by will,
in 1719, and Mr. Thomas Merret, in 1/24, deviled
certain lands to truftees, in order to apply the rents
for the fupport and benefit of a charity fchool in
Tcwkelbury.
But the annual fum arifing from thefe charities
being fmall, an addition is made to it, by the private
fubtcription of fome of the inhabitants.
Fifteen boys receive the benefit of this charity,
\vlio are inftrudled in reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Formerly, this fchool was more liberally patronized,
and of confequence its utility was more extenfive, 33
appears by a book, printed in 1712.
Sunday Schools.
While on the fubjecl: of fchools it mould be men-
tioned, that, in 1788, a fubfcription was fet on foot for
the eflablifiiment of Sunday Schools in this borough ;
at which the children of the honelt and induftrious
poor, are taught to read, and are inftrufted in the prin-
ciples of the Chriftian Religion, and in their focial and
moral duties. So benevolent and ufeful an inftitution
we hope, will ever find patrons, as long as it is pro-
perly conducted.
Formerly there was an eminent academy atTewkef-
bury, at which fome diftinguimed characters received
their early education, Among the reit we can particu-
C ro ]
larize ^.ecfker, archbilnop of Canterbury, and Butler,
bifliop of Durham ; as appears from Seeker's life, pre-
fixed to his lermons.
On the north fide, near the entrance of the church
yard, ftands the gaol for the borough. It appears to
Lave been originally annexed to the abbey, and uied as
a belfry, for the purpofe of convening the inhabitants
to church on week days. It was afterwards converted
into a gaol for half the county, but is now confined to
the ufe of the town.
Here are alfo alms-houfes in the Church-yard and
Gander-lane ; the former for ten poor widows, and the
latter for poor perfons, placed therein by the trultees to
thefe chanties ; both without any endowment.
HAMLETS BELONGING TO TEWKtSBURY — MYTHE AND
SOUTHWICK.
nr
JL HE whole parifh of Tewkeibury is about
fix miles in circumference. It contains the two ham-
lets of the Mythe and Southwick.
The Mytle.
The word Mythe feems clearly to be derived from
the Greek Mt£o*» which remotely fignifies aftation*.
The eminence which goes under the denomination of
the Mythe, is formed by nature for a military ftation,
being difficult of accefs in every part except the north.
The Severn and the Avon, which flow at its bale, and
meet each other in the valley, add to its fecurity ; and,
in ancient times, it was no doubt a ftrong pofition for
an army. The Romans frequently adopted the terms
• VideHefych. in Voc.
C 7i ]
of the Greeks; and the very name, which the place
now bears, decides it to have been, formerly, a Roman
Military Station.
On the fouth-weft fide of the Mythe, there is a
Tumulus, the fummit of which commands beautiful and
extenfive profpetts: its front is a very abrupt precipice,
at the foot of which runs the Severn, whofe windings
add a richnefs to the variegated furrounding landscapes.
When their prel'ent majeflies and the princefles refided
at Cheltenham, in the year 1/88, this fpothad the ho-
nour of feveral royal vilits. It ufed to be called by the
name of the Mytbz Tute, but it is now aptly changed to
that of Royal Hill
The Mythe is fituated about half a mile north of
Tewkelbury, and is ornamented by the feats of Martin
Lucas, William Dillon, and Thomas Porter, Efqrs.
Thefe command exceedingly rich and wide-extended
profpefts, in which Tewkefbury, the Severn, with the
Avon, and a pleating variety of hills and vales, form
the principal obje&s of attraction.
Here is a venerable-looking building in this ham-
let, which has not unfrequently been miftaken for
Holme Caflle, It does not, however, appear to have
any thing particularly curious to recommend it j and
nothing is handed down to us by which it may be
fpoken of with any degree of certainty, though there
is a traditionary opinion, that it was inhabited by king
John, at the time of his building the long bridge.
Soutbvjick.
Southwick is briefly mentioned in the extract from
ihe Domefday book, at the beginning of the account
of the manor of Tewkefbury.
The Ledge, in this hamlet, the feat of Ccl. Wall,
is charmingly fituatcd on a lofty eminence, riling by a
gentle acclivity, on the banks of the Severn, and about
a mile (bath-weft of the town. The views from this
Ipot are very pidurefqae ; the eye commanding a fpa-
cious trad of land, eminently enriched by a diverfity of
very beautiful fcenery. This fituation formerly confti-
tuted Tewkelbury park, as it appears from Leland.
" Ther is a parke bytwixt the old Plotte of Holme
tl Caftelle and it (Deerhurfte), but it longgid to- Holme.
" the Erles of Glocefter's Houfe and not to it ThtT
*' is a fair rnaner Place of tymbre and (tone in this
" Theokfbyri Parke wher the Lord Edward Spenfar lay
" and late my Lady Mary."
Irises ART.
RIVERS SURROUNDING TEWKESBURY : — SEVERN* — AVOH
— CARRON AND SWILGATE.
Severn.
JL HE river Severn, which is juftly efleemed
the fecond and moft rapid river in England, and far
fuperior to any other in beautifully piclurefque and
varied fcenery, has its rife at the foot of Plinlimmon, a
mountain in the fouth-weit part of Montgomeryshire,
in North Wales; and, after being joined by numberlefs
fmall ftreams, pafles on with a fwift current through
Shroplhire and Worcefterfhire, and enters this county
about a mile above Tewkefbury, to which place the
tides flow, in general, every full and change of the
moon. At Tewkelbury it receives the Avcn; from
t 73 ]
thence it runs to Glocefter, keeping a N. W. (Jourfe
till it empties itfelf into the Briftol Channel, below
Kingroad, having run near two hundred miles from its
fource. For fome diftance from its mouth, which is
deemed fingularly magnificent*, it is four or five miles
broad, and is navigable for veflels of confiderable bur-
then as high as Pool Quay, near Welch Pool, being
within a few miles of Plinlimmon-hill ; viz. for veflels
ot HOtonstoGlocefter, of 80 to Tewkefbury, of 70 to
Worcefter, of GO to Bewdley and Stourport, of 40 to
Shrewibury, and of 30 to Pool Quay, beyond which
place it is not navigable, except in great floods.
The Britifh name of this river is Hafren, which
was given it, as fome fay, becaute a virgin of the name
of Abren, or Sabren, was drowned in it, by command of
queen Guendolena, after the death of her hufband,
Locrine, becaufe (he was the fruit of his unlawful
love. Agreeably to this are the following lines of an
ancient poet:
— — In fiumen pracipitatur ABREN
Nomen AIR.EN fluvio devirgine; nomen cidem
Nomine corrupto, delude SABRIKA datur.
ThusEnglHhed:
Into this ilream fair AUREN'S body caft,
Gave name of ABREN to the waters vaft,
Coiruptly call'd SABRINA now at laft.
And Milton, alluding to this ftory, fpeaks thus:
• SEVERN fwift, guilty of Maiden's death.
* " Theeftuafy of the Severn is fingularly magnificent, form-
ing a channel, not unirequently nor improperly Ityled the Severn
fea; whofe banks, on either fide, rife from the richeft maifhes to
lofty and piclurefque mountains. Europe, I believe, does not
furnifh another river.cntrance of equal grandeur."
MarJhaH's Rural Econ. oj Gloucefter/hire.
H
But Leland treats tliis (lory as fabulous, and gives
it as his opinion, that the river took its name from
Akcr, an old Britilh word, implying the junction of a
lefler water with a greater. From this, the Se-
vern (which confifts of an union of many contri-
butory waters) may very probably have been deno-
minated.
Others again, rejefting the opinion of Leland, fup-
pofe the name to be derived from the Saxon Stfjern, or
Sea-flowing.
The Severn is very remarkable for its tide, by hif-
torians termed the Hygre, but more commonly called
the ~Boar, which fwells not by degrees, as in other riv-
ers, but rolls in with a head, two, three, and fometimes
four feet high, foaming and roaring, as if enraged by
the oppofition of the banks. It is occafioned, as Mr.
Rudder remarks*, from the refiftance it meets with
from a ftrong current of frefli water, which feems to
contend with it for the fuperiority, clafhing in fuch a
manner as to dam the waters to a confiderable height.
This conteft between them, continues he, is called the
Hygre, or Eager, probably from the French eau guerre,
i. e. water-war. The tide getting the better, marches
up the ftream vi&orioufly. Sir Robert Atkinsf ac-
counts for it, from the mouth of the Severn opening to
the great Atlantic ocean, which pours in its tide with
great violence, and the river becoming narrow on a
fudden, it fills the channel at once. An hypothefis,
which appears both philofophical and juft.
New Hiftory of Gloucefterfhiie.
Iliilory of Glocefterfhirc.
[ 75 ]
Brttytorfi dcf motion of tie turbulence of tie river
Severn.
...... .._ — .._.._" with whofe tumultuous wanes
Shut vp in narrower bounds, the KIGKE wildly raues;
And flights the itragling ilorks, the neighbouring Chores to flic,
Af-irre as from tht Maine it comes with hideous cry,
And on the angry front the curled foame doth bring,
The billowcs gairill the banks when fiercrly it doth fling;
Hurles vp the flimie ooze and makes the fcalie brood
Lcape madding to the Land affrighted from the flood :
Oreturncs the toyling Barge, whofe ftcrcfman doth not Kincb,
And tluuils the furrowing beake into her iielull paiich ;
As when we haplie fee a ficklte woman fall
Into a fit of that which wee the Mother call,
When from the gvieued wombe iliee fceles the paine atife,
Bieakes into gricuous fighes, with intermixed ciies,
Bereaued of her fenfe; and (tingling itill with thofc
T hat gaind her riling paine their vtmolt Ihength oppofe,
Suns, toffes, tumbles, ftnkes, turnes, toufes, fpuriies ar.d fpranles,
Coding with fuiious lims her holders to the wallts;
1'ut that the horrid pangs tormenfcs the grieued lo,
One well might mui'e 1'iom whence this fuddaine ftrcngth fhould
grow."
Poly-olbion^ b. 7. p. 101.
"William of Mnlmlbury flaking of this river, fays,
" There is not any in the land that has a broader chan-
" nel, fwifter ftream, or greater plenty of fi^h. There
" is in it as it were a daily rage and fury of the waters ;
" whicji I know not whether I may call a Gulfb or
" Whirl fool, calHng up the fands from the bottom, and
" rowling them into heaps; it comes with a great tor-
" rent, but loies its force at a bridge. Sometimes it
«' overflows its banks, and marching a great way into
" the neighbouring plains, returns back as conqueror
"of the land. That veltel is in great clanger which
" is ftricken by it on the rk!e j the watermen are ufed
112
[ 76 ]
" to it, and when they fee this Uygrc coming (for to
*' they call it) they turn the veflel, and, cutting through
" the midft of it, avoid its force."
The tides of the Severn are very variable: They
are fometimes higher at the full moon, and other times
at the change, but the fifth tide, after the full or change
of the moon, is generally the highefl. Sometimes alfo
the night tides are higheft, and at other times the day
tides.
Excellent fifli are caught in this river, particularly
falmon, carp, lampreys, trout, pike, ihad, flounders,
and other of the fmaller fort.
The Severn abounds alfo with a peculiar fort of
fifh, called Elvers. They are faid, by naturalifts, to be
the young of the conger eel, a fpecies of the Muraena.
They are fcarcely fo big as a quill when they enter the
rivers, and are caught in considerable quantities about
the month of April. They are reckoned very delicate
eating.
It has been conjectured, that the vale through
•which the Severn runs, was once wholly inundated j
a conjecture which feems not improbable, as the mea-
dows on each fide of the river, for feveral miles toge-
ther, are flat, and uniformly of a deep, rich foil, fuch
as we may fuppofe that land to have been, which was
for ages covered with water, and then left to the power
of vegetation. The breadth too of this vale feems to
widen by degrees, except where a few hillocks have
been thrown up to ftraiten it, as it draws nearer the
broad water. Moft of thefe meadows, likewife, are
common for at leaft half the year : from whence we
may infer, that they have continued to be the property
[ 77 ]
of no one in particular, ever fince they were firft left
by the waters ; though it mult be confeffed, that in
the courfe of time, thefe commons have fallen under
various regulations. The bottom of the Severn, for the
moft part, is of a light fand or gravel, and therefore apt
to be formed into fhoals, which are very frequently
ihifted by high and rapid tides and ftormy weather, as
well as by the immenfe body of water defcending from,
the upper country after hafly rains.
Much has been /aid of the expediency of improv-
ing the navigation of this river, which is at all times
tedious and uncertain, from the fortuitous obftacles of
windings, flioals, and other impediments j but there is
little realbn to believe that any attempt of this kind
will ever be fuccefsful. The modes propoled have been
either to raife locks, or ftraiten the courie of the ftream
by weirs; the expediency of which is very problema-
tical. The Glocefter canal, as far as that port, will
probably obviate the principal dangers of the naviga-
tion of the Severn.
During the fummer months, the fimermen find
here large quantities of a fpecies of coal, fomething of
the culme kind, which is of great fei vice to the maltfters
and brickmakers of that part of the country where it
is found. It is railed from the bottom of the Severn,
by means of an iron hoop, with a final I net hanging
from it at the end of a pole, which will reach to the
bottom of the water. The fand being waflied away,
the net retains the coal, which is in pieces of the fize
of the fmalleft pebbles, and like them in fhape, having
all their angles and corners rubbed off by rolling in
the water: a proof that they come from fome very
diftant part, and are brought hither entirely by the
[ 78 ]
fap'tdity of the dream. Befides, they Teem to be of a
nature very different from the coals of Stourport, and
therefore cannot be from the fame fource, unlefs the
depofh of them in the water for a length of time, pro-
duces this change.
The river Severn is of very confiderable impor-
tance to this kingdom, on account of its trade. Many
hundred thouland tons of coals are annually tranfported
from the collieries of Shroplhire and Starfordihire, to
the towns fituale on its b:<nks, and the country adja-
cent j alfo, great quantities of lead, iron, and iron ma-
nufactures, grain, &c. are conftantly carried to Briltol
and Chepltow, from whence merchants' goods are re-
turned.
" It is a (ingular circumftance," fays Mr. Gilpin*,
" that within a quarter of a mile of the well-head of the
*' Wye ariies the Severn. The two firings are nearly
te alike: but the fortunes of rivers, like thole of men,
" are owing to various little circum fiances, of which
" they take the advantage in the early part of their
" courfe. The Severn meeting with a tra6t of ground,
" rifing on the right, foon after it leaves Plinlimmon,
" receives a puth towards the north eaft. In this clirec-
" tion it continues its courfe to Shrewlbury. There it
" meet s another obftru&ion, which turns it as far fouth-
" eaft. Afterwards, ftill meeting with favourable op-
" portunities, it fuccefsfully improves them; inlarging
" its circle; fweepiog from one country to another ;
" receiving large acceflions cvery^ where of wealth and
" grandeurj till, at length with a full tide, it enters the
" ocean as an arm of the fea. In the mean time, the
* In his Observations on the river Wye.
C 79 ]
** Wye, meeting with no particular opportunities of any
" confequence to improve its fortunes, never makes any
" figure as a capital river; and, at length, becomes fub-
" lervient to that very Severn, whofe birth, and early
" fetting out in life, were exactly fimilar to its own.
*' Between thefe two rivers is comprehended a diftricl,
" confifting of great part of the counties of Montgo-
" mery, Radnor, Salop, Worcefter, Hereford, and Glo-
" cefter. Of tlielaft county, that beautiful portion only
" is inclofed, which forms the Foreft of Dean."
About two miles from Tewkelbury lies the ifle of
Eight, in the Severn ; where, as fome fuppofe, the fingle
combat between Edmund Ironfide and Canute ^he
Great was terminated, by an amicable refolution of di-
viding the crown.
Avon.
Of the feveral Avons in this kingdom, that now
under review is generally allowed to have the pre-emi-
nence; not only from being the moft confiderable in its
volume, and the length of its courfe, but as it was on
this river, that
— — Shakefpeare, Fancy's fweeteft child,
Waibled ins native wood notes wild.
From which circumftance it has derived that diffingui/h-
ing epithet of " the foft- flowing Avon." It meanders
through one of the fineft vallies in the kingdom, the
vale of Tewkelbury, or, as it is more generally called,
the vale of Evemam ; which is fo remarkable for its
fruitfulnefs, particularly in corn, as to be frequently
denominated " the Garden of England."
From the ancient Britifli word Avon, fignifying a
river, this Avon derived its name. It rifes in Northarop-
C 80 ]
tonfliire and runs by Warwick and Stratford, at which
place it becomes navigable, to Evefham, from thence
to Tewkelbury, where, taking itscourfe near the town,
it difcharges itfelf into the Severn.
It appears, by an old MS. that this river (by means
of which, with the Severn, Tewkeibury has communi-
cation with the greater part of the kingdom) was firft
made navigable in the year 1637. Leland tells us that
" George Dnke of Clarence, brother to king Edward,
" had thought to have brought Avon aboutc the towne,
" and to have enlarged the towne."
t
Carron and SwilgaU.
The Carron rifes in Beckford, and difcharges itfelf
into the Avon a little above Tewkelbury. It is a
boundary between the counties of Glocefter and Wor-
cefter.
The Swilgate, or Swilyate, which rifes near Chel-
tenham, empties itfelf into the Avon a little below the
town. Leland, fpeaking of it, fays, "Ther is a litle
" Broke caullid Suliet cumming downe from dive, and
" enterith into Avon at Holme Caftelle by the lifte
" Ripe of it. This at Sodayne Raynes is a very wylde
" Broke, and is fedde with Water faulling from the
" Hillcs therby."
ITINSRART.
REMARKABLE AND INTERESTING INCIDENTS UELATIVB
TO TEWKE3BURY.
Extracted from the Black Rook belonging to the Cot partition, and other
authentic Retards*
authentic Records,
S:
'IR Matthew Hale, in his Hiftory of the
Common Law, lays, there were feven pair of the char-
ters called Magna Charta and Charta de Forefta (which
were granted by king John at Runnymede, 15th of
June, 1215) lent to fome of the great monafteriesj
one part whereof was fent to the abbey of Tewkelbury,
and which fir Matthew fays he had feen ; and the fub-
rtance thereof differed fomething from the Magna
Charta and Charta de Foreila, granted by king Henry
HI. Vide Runningtoris Edition <J H ale, p. 7- JPrigbt's
Tenures, p. 84, 85.
1260. It is recorded, that a jew having fallen into
a privy or common fewer at Tewkelbury, on a Satur-
day, ret u fed to permit any one to help him out on that
day, left he ihould profane his fabbath j and, that
Richard de Clare II. the lord of the manor, hearing of
it, gave orders that none Ihould aflilt him on the Sun-
day, reiblving to make him oblerve the chriftian fab-
bath with the fame folemnity he had done his own.
But before Monday morning this ceremonious Ifraelite
expired in filth and ftench. See Purchases Pilgrimage.
In the year 14/0, a commifiion was granted to the
bimop of Down and Connor, to new confecrate
Tewkefbtiry church, bccaufe it had been then latelj
polluted with blood. $* '.
I
[ 82 ]
Kobert, earl of Gloucefter, natural ion of king
Henry I. built a lofty wooden fpire ou the top of
Tewkefbury church, which, on Eafter-day, 155Q, fell
down in the time of divine fervice.
1554. Queen Mary, by her letters patent under
the great feal of England, dated the third of April,
gave to thirteen poor, aged, and impotent men of
this town, commonly called the Beadfmen, or Almf-
men, and to continue for ever, as follows: To each of
them in money, ten-pence per week; to each of them
yearly to buy a gown, fix iTiillings and eight-pence ;
and five marks yearly for the rent of a houle for their
habitation.
On the 24th of July, 1571, being fair-day, fuch a
quantity of bats came floating down the river Avon at
this town, that they covered thefurface of the water for
above a land's length, in heaps more than a foot thick,
•which fo dammed up the mills for three days, that they
could not go, 'till the bats were dug out with ihovels.
Vide Wantners Papers in the Bodleian Library.
1574. This year the town fent an ox, of unufual
fize, to Kenelworth-caftle, to be prefented to the earl
of Leicefter, being bigh-fteward, who had thrn pro-
cured the town to be incorporated ; which ox was
feventeen hands high, and in length from head to tail
twenty-fix hands three inches, and coft 141. for which
the whole town was levied and gathered. And the
year before, the faidearl was prelentedatTewkefbury
with a cup, filver and gilt, which coft 161. for which
the town was alfo levied.
The fame year (15/4) a beadle was appointed by
the council, for fuppreffing thofe vagabonds that fre-
t 83 1
quented the town,, to devour the alms of the poor alid
impotent.
Alfo, it was ordered and appointed, 23d of April,
for the placings and fet tings of the market newly
granted for all manner of live cattle, wool and yarn,
That the market for great cattle, — oxen, kine, &c.
fhould be holden in the High-ftreet or Oldbury-ftreet,
from the end of the town downwards to the Key-lane j
the market for cheefe to be kept in Church ftreet, be-
tween the lane by Nicholas Cfevelie's houfe and the
Church-ftile; and that the market for wool and yarn
fhould be kept in the foller over the market-houfe ;
and all other markets to be kept as they had been ufed
before that time.
1577- The beadle before appointed for fuppref-
fing vagabonds, was difcharged by the bailiffs; to fave
the expences thereby incurred.
In the church-warden's book of accounts for
Tewkefbury, A. D, 15/8, is this entry. " Pay'd for
" the player's geers, fix iheepfkins for Chrift's Gar-
" ments." And in an inventory recorded in the fame
book, 1585, are thefe words, " And order eight heads
" of hair for the apoftles, and ten beards, and a face
" or vizer for the devil." — This {hews that myfteries,
as plays were then called, were probably a£led in the
churches*.
* Of the myfteriesj feeRofcoe's lifeof Loren/o di Medici, Vol.
i. p. 299; Tyrrwhu's Chaucer, Vol. 4. p. 243 ; and Preface to
Malonr's Shakefpear. The prccepes, or representation of the
Mangcrvn whichChriftwa* laid, are to this day exhibited at Rome.
'i he miracle pl.iy of St Catharine,is faid to be written byGeoftry,
abbot of St. Alban's, and performed at Dunllablc mo; butRofcoc
I 2
[ 84 ]
In 1578, about Michaelmas, began the fuppofcd
ficknefs of Pefiilence, in the town, and in fix weeks
died the number of thirty perfons ; but by the diligent
rnre of the bailiffs in limiting up the fufpecled houfes, a
general infection was prevented.
In 15/9 the licknefs appeared again, fuppofed to be
the peftilence, which, by the good government of the
bailiffs in limiting up the houles, it began and ended
in the Swan Inn. — Five perfons only dying thereof.
On the 4th of July, 1580, the county affixes were
held here, the plague, it is fuppofed, being then at
Glocefter. And the bailiffs, in their account with the
chamberlain, charged 11s. for wine, and 13s. 4d. for
tent, with which they had treated the court and their
friends An example of the frugality of thofe times!
But, as Mr. Rudder has very juftly oblerved*, what
would two of his Majefty's juftices think of fuch a treat
now-a-days?
In 1582 the belfry tower was converted into a
houfe of correction, for half the fhire, by the juftices.
1584. The quav was enlarged and new repaired
with pofls, &c. at the expence of the bailiffs and the
benevolence of other perfons.
In 1586, there was a dearth in this country that
bordered upon famine, and the juftices of the peace
frys, there was no dramatic compofuion in the Englifh language be-
fore the year 1500, prior to which they were common in Italy.
See more in Percy's reliqucs of ancient Englifti poetry, VoL
1. p. 126— Ancient fongs.
* New Hiftory of Glouceftcrflmc;
1 65 ]
joined with the bailiffs of the town to abridge the
liberty of buying grain, an,d malting was entirely pro-
hibited.
On the Ipth day of July, 1587, being Friday, hap-
pened a very great and fudden inundation of the rivers
Severn and Avon, infomuch that in two days time the
meadows were all overflowed. The inhabitants of
Tewkefbury and others going with carriages to fetch
the hay out of the neighbouring meadows, were obliged
to relinquifh their dt fign, and leave the carts loaded
behind them. And in the meadows ju-ft above the
town, the cocks of hay were fwimming in fuch abun-
dance down towards the long bridge, that the townf-
men were contained, with pick-forks and long poles,
•to Hand on the bridge of wood to break the cocks, left
the bridge fliould be -carried away by the force' of them.
Much grafs was found unmowed the Bartholomew tide
following, the greater part of which, with much hay,
was ufed for thatch.
In the reign of queen Elizabeth, on the threatened
Spanifli invafion, Tewkelbury raifed forty-fix men for
the queen's fervice.
After Michaelmas 15QI, a houfe was fufpefted to
be infefted with .the plague, at which time it was great
in London.
In November next year, the plague began in Bar-
ton-flreet, with only one or two houfes being infected,
until the April following, when it raged very furioufly,
continuing all thefummer, winter, and fpring follow-
ing, until the middle of May, when, contrary to expec-
tation, it entirely ceafed. Nolefs than five hundred and
£xty perfons died of it within the year -} and .of houfes
[ 36 ]
Infeftecl there were one hundred and fifty or more;
-during which time, from befcre Whitfuntide until All-
Saints, no market or fair was kept in the town. Many
of the inhabitants forlbok the place in confequence of
the licknefs.
In 1595, grain was fo high before the hnrveft,
that proclamations were published to reftrain the prices
to the rates they were at two months before.
In 15Q6, the town was divided into five wards, over
which prefided two high conftables : — 1. Bridge-ward.
2. Church-ward. 3. Barton- ward. Thefe three had
«ach a petty conftable. 4. St. Mary's-ward, with
two petty conftables. 5. The Middle-ward, which
the high conftables themfelves took charge of. There
are now only four conftables for the borough.
1596. Poor ftrangers fo greatly frequented this
town, that a beadle was again ordered to walk the
ftreets.
In 1597» wheat fold for 12s. 6d. perbuihel, barley
8s. malt 8s. which were exceflive prices, confidcring
the fcarcity of money. During thefe times, the citi-
zens of Gloucefler ftrrtched a chain acrofs the Severn,
that no veflel with provificns might pafs beyond them,
but the town ofTewkelbury petitioning the lords of
the privy council, they caufed the chain to be taken
down.
Peftilence commonly fucceeds famine, accordingly
the plague made its appearance the following year, and
carried oft about forty perfons.
1602. This year the bridge over Swilgate was built.
September 13, 1602, Lord Zouch, the lord prefix
dent of Wales, came through this town, and lay here
all night, and was prefented, by Mr. Bailiff, with wine
and fugar.
In 1602, the monks' flails, which were formerly
filuated in the body of the church, were removed into
the chancel j as appears by an old book belonging to
the church- warden.
1603. The plague broke out again, when twenty-
three perfons died of it, all of whom were buried in
coffins of board; which fhews a tuperior degree of
decency to what is commonly obferved in regard to
thofe who die of that cruel malady.
In 1604, there was fo great a drought, that the
Avon was dry from Whitfuntide to the Bartholomew
tide following.
In 1607 a large entire blue ftone was found under
ground in the church, thirteen feet eight inches long,
three feet and a half broad, and feven inches thick j
which for fome time was placed in the middle of the
chancel, and ufed as the communion table.
December 2O, 1607, began a great froft,
treme cold, continuing until the l&th of February fol-
lowing, in which time, the rivers being frozen, a Scar-
city of wood and coal caufed great diftrefs to many of
the poor inhabitants, and proved very inconvenient to
the trading part of the community.
In 1610 there was a flood that fpoiled great quan-
tities of hay.
In 1(5I2, there was an order of the council, that
all market horfes (which heretofore flood in the market-
place, to the great inconvenience of the inhabitants)
Ihould be put into (tables, and other houfes cf the
town ; and that the owners of them ihould pay one
penny for the ftandings of every three horfes, if with-
out meat ; but if meat was given them, one halfpenny
at leaft (hoald be paid for every horfe, and nothing for
their Handings.
1620. The crop of corn was fo great this year,
that barley fold for lOd. per bufliel, and the beft wheat
for 3s.
In the fummer of 1(324, being the firft yerir of the
reign of king Charles I. tnis town was again vilited by
a peftilence, but by the care of the bailiff's in removing
infefted families into the Oldbury-field, where houfes
were built for their reception, this calamity foon ceafed,
and not more than twenty perfons died.
Monday, March 28, 1(325, Mr. Edward Alye,
cldeft fon and executor of his father Edward Alye, efq.
deceafed, who was buried this day, cauled the poor to
afTemble in the church, in the afternoon, when Robert
Mnile of Fortington, and John James of this town,
diflributed 7!. 17s. after the proportion of two-pence
a-piece, whereby it appears that the number of poor
exceeded nine hundred, and yet the country poor were
excluded.
In 1632 the four bells in the tower were caft
into fix; the charge whereof was near one hundred
pounds.
n January 1634, fell the greateft fnow that was-
e-ver remembered in the memory of man ; and it was
attended with fueh extreme cold, violent, and tempef-
tuous weather, that many people going from this
market were fmothered and frozen to death. And
in the Auguft following, great quantities of the
fame fnow and ice were to be feen in Brockhamp-
ton quarries, notwithftanding it was an extreme hot
fummer.
1635. . This year the Holme bridge (at the Church-
flreet's end) was built.
In the year 1637, the river Avon was firft made
navigable by Mr. William Sandys of Fladbury.
1038. On the 5th of April fell, after a great
drought, a fnow that was more than a foot deep,
And on the 2d of July, the affizes were held here
again, before fir Humphry Davenport, chief baron of
the Exchequer, and Sir William Jones, kt. when the
court made the following order : —
Glouc.Jf. T TTHEREAS there is a certeyne Bridge
V V called the Long-Bridge, lying att the
North-end of the Towne of Tewketbury, and
leading towards the Gittie of Worcefter, con-
teyning above feven hundred yards in length,
which is growne into great decay, and lo hath
beene for many yeares laft pad, by reafon
whereof divers of his majelties fubje&s tra-
velling that way have beene unfortunately
drowned : And for that it doth not appears
•who in the memory of Man have repayred. the
K
C DO ]
fa id Bridge, nor who by Law ought to doe itt:
Therefore to the end foe neceiftry a worke
fhould bee effe&ed, It is ordered by afient,
that the County of Gloucefter mall forthwith
rayfe by way of contribucon, a competent
fome of money, towards the repayre of the
fayde Bridge, which being once effected, the
Corporation ofTewketbury doth offer tokeepe
and maynteyne the fame. Provided thnt the
contribncon of the whole County with the Pa-
rim of Tewkelbury bee noe prejudice to the
County, nor drawne into example for the
future.
. Per Curiam.
In 1639, the done bridge next the Mythe, and the
arch over .the Avon .were built. Theie conm'tute part
of the long bridge.
1640. The fummer of this year was the wetteft
ever known. There were eight floods between Mid-
furnmer and Michaelmas. So often was the Ham
under water, that the hay was all loft or fpoiled, the
meadows were not half mowed, and the grafs rotted
upon the ground.
The earl of Eflex with his army came to
the 10th of September, 1(543, and lay here five daysj
from hence they marched towards London, but the
king's army meeting them near Newbery, a great bat-
tle was fought there.
In the year 1647, -this borough was afleffed ten
pounds ten Shillings per month, towards the mainte-
nance of the forces within the kingdom, and for car-
rying on the war with Ireland.
C 9i ]
1048. This furamer was fo remarkable for cold
and wet, that harveft began not until Bartholomew-
tide, and wheat fold at 10s, rye at Ss. and malt at 6s.
the buihel, and in all probability would have been
double the price, had not great quantities been im-
ported from abroad,
On the 2d of July, 1655, Henry Saule bought at
this market, thirteen bufhels of good wheat at 1/d. per
bufliel, and the fame day paid 22d. for barley. This
is a circumftance fo very remarkable, that an inftance
of the kind was never heard of before, nor probably
will never occur again.
On the 18th of February, l66l, the great welt
window of the church was blown down by a violent
wind.
1662. On the 14th of Augnft, lord Herbert, the
lord lieutenant of the county, by virtue of an a6t of
parliament for regulating corporations, came to this
town and fet a fide ten of the common council, and
chofe others in their ftead.
On the 23d of December, 1673, here was fo great a
flood, that the water came into the chancel of the
church. An inundation fo extenfive, could not be re-
membered by the oldeft inhabitant of the place.
1675. About half paft feven o'clock in the even-
ing of the 4th of January, a very dreadful fhock of an
earthquake was felt here and in the parts adjacent.
February 10, 16Q5, king James II. was proclaimed
in this town.
K2
C 9* ]
1(586 It appears that the great weft window of the
church, which was blown down in lOul, was not re-
built until this year.
In the year 1696, the fix bells in the church were
caft into eight; the expences of which were defrayed
by voluntary contribution. They were founded by that
celebrated workman, Abraham Rudhall of Glocelier.
This year the earl of Eifex paffed through
the town, and was made free of the corporation. The
duke of Stomberg likewile palled through, and wa*
alfo made free of the corporation.
The fame year feven companies were compleated,
and provided their flags to attend upon MelTrs. the
Bailiffs.
In June, J/21, here was a great flood, fo high
that the inhabitants were neceflitated to ufe boats in
the town. Moft of the grais was fpoiled, but it proved
a very good corn harveft.
Same year, his royal highnefs the prince of Wales,
gave a gold cup, of 50 guineas value, which was run
for over Tewkeibury Ham, the 2d of September, and
won by a horfe belonging to John Bruges, efq.
1722. There was a great flood which did confider-
able damage. His royal highnefs the prince of Wales
gave another gold cup of the fame value with the former,
•which was run for over the faid Ham, and won by a
horie the property of the right honoui able lord Tracy.
1723. This year is memorable for a dry feafon,
there being little or no rain from March to the middle
L 93 ]
of November, which caufed coals to. be fold at the
exorbitant price of 10s. per tou.
And, in the fame year, a lift was taken of all the
men, women, and children inhabiting within this town,
when it appeared that the number amounted to 2866j
viz. males 1234, females 1632..
]n 1/24, the tenant or occupier of tlie locks andi
tonage within this parilh, was chargeable by the poor
levies after the rate of others of the inhabitants.
In the fame year, the long roof of the church and
other parts of it, were rebuilt and repaired by a brief
granted by the right honourable lord chancellor Parker.
On the 30th of April, 1725, a Sturgeon, fix feet
five inches and a quarter long, and twenty-feven
inches round, was caught in the Severn, between the
upper and lower lodes.
1725. About Midfummer, good wheat fold for
• 3s. 4d. per bufhel, but the wetnefs of the fummer, and
a great blight of the corn, caufed it afterwards to be
fold for 7s. 8d. the hufhel. five floods were on Severn,
fix on Avon, and ten on Swilgate, in the fame year.
In the year 1 /26, aa aft of parliament was ob-
tained for repairing the roads about Tewkefbury. In
the fame year, the altar piece was ereded in the chan-
cel, by private contribution, and the feats therein re-
paired.
The year 1727 was remarkable for the number of
floods on the rivers Severn and Avon ; there being not
Jefs than twenty, which did confiderable damage.
[ 9-1 3
1723. This fummcr proved fo wet as to caufe
feveral very large floods, whereby much grafs was
fpoiled. The fever was very prevalent among the inha-
bitants, fuppofed to be occasioned by the unfavourable
feafon. Wheat fold for 95 6d. the bulhel, and had it
not been for the vaft quantities imported from abroad,
it was generally believed there would not have been
corn fufficient to have fubfilled the country.
In 1729, fixty buflrels of wheat were fold for 2ll.
and, in the fame year, fix bulhels fold for 21s. Barley
was alfo fold for 4s. the bufliel, but before the feafon of
malt-making was over, the fame article for 22d. The
fummer of this year was remarkable for the number of
perfons that died of fore throats and fevers : thofe who
were thus afte&ed, were carried off in the fpaee of
twenty hours.
In 1731, the right honourable Anne, countefs of
Coventry, who refided at Strenfham, gave a tine worked
communion-table cloth and two cufhions to the church,
xvhich are in prefent ufe.
On the pth of April, 1734, the right honourable lord
Gage, and Robert Tracy, efq. were eledted to reprefent
this borough in parliament. And in the fame year lord
Gage made a prefent of a fire engine to the corporation.
In 1735, a child of four years old (named John
Newman) fell into the water wheel of the mill, at this
town, while it was working; was carried under the
•wheel between the Indies, and very miraculously efcaped
injury. What is the more remarkable, it \vas only a
fpace of two inches between the bottom of the wheel
and the iheeting. Vide Feoffee Boak.
L 95 ]
This year the foot pavement, on the church
fide of the way, from one end of the town to the other,
being yOO yards in length, was promoted by the ladies,
carried on by fubfcription, and begun and finimed by
•the care and under the direction of W. Bromley, efq.
In 1737, the organ was erected in the church.
1739. On the 25th of December, a very fevere
froft began, and continued till the Jpth of February
following; during which time, the Severn was fo hard
frozen, that loaded waggons and horfes pafled over at
the upper and lower lodes. A fliecp was roa.fted on the
ice above the quay bridge. Wheat advanced price
from 5s. to Qs. 6d. ; beans from 2s. to 5s. /d. the bufhel ;
and, hay from 15s. to 31. per ton.
1741. A remarkably fine autumn. This year the
right honourable lord Gage, and John Martin, efq.
were elected members for this borough.
In the year 1743, wheat fold for 2s. (5d. barley 20d.
and beans 22d, thebuiriel. On Hie 18th of Augtrft, in
the fame year (about three o'clock in the afternoon),
was a violent fiorm of hail, which did great damage to
the windows of the church and the houfes in the town ;
to the former the damage was eftimated at 501. and to
the latter 4001. Some of the halftones are laid to hav£
meafured live inches round.
On the 2d of April, 1745, a barge bound up Avon,
going too near the fall of water (called the Stanchard)
was taken down by the rapidity of the ftream, but re-
ceived very little damage, and was not funk.
The fame year, lord Gage and William Dowdef-
[ 9G ]
well, efq. were ele&cd members for this boro.ugh, with-
out oppofition.
And, in the fame year, four arches of the long bridge
.-(next old Avon) were built with brick, in the room of
the three wood ones which \vere there before.
1/50. This year the church walk was paved by
fubfcription. The iron gates at the entrance into the
church were given by lord Gage. Thofe next the
ftreet, the wall, and the pallifadoes, were given by
William Dowdefwell, efq.
1751. An a& pafled for the better regulating the
navigation of the river Avon, and for afcertaining the
rates of water-carriage upon the laid river.
1754. A regulation was made in the weight o£
•butter, by altering it from dimes to pounds.
The fame year, John Martin, and Nicolfon Calvert,
«fqrs. were chofen reprefentativres in parliament for
this borough.
1755. Mr. Martin fubfcribed 20001. towards re-
pairing the roads leading from this town, and Mr. Cal-
vert 15001. for the fame laudable purpofe.
When the new militia law was carried into execution
in this county, in the years 1758, 1759, and 1760, one
man out of every twenty-nine upon the lifts, was taken,
by ballot, throughout the county. Fourteen men were
raifed in Tewkefbury, which (hews the comparative
-ilate of population, as far as the lifts may be relied on.
C 97 3
On the 26th of March, 1761, and again on »&e 18th
of March, 1/68, fir William Codrington, bait, and
Nicolfon Calvert, efq. were ele&ed to ferve this bo-
rough in parliament.
The year 1770 produced the greateft flood ever
remembered at Tewkefbury, occafioned by a prodigi-
ous fall of fnow, which was fucceeded by a heavy rain,
that continued for three days and three nights, with-
out intermifiion. On Saturday, the 17th of November,
the water came up the Gander-lane and St. Mary's-
lane, and met, in a place called the Ball -ring in Church-
ilreet. And on Sunday, the 18th, it rofe fo high, that
large boats, with twelve or fourteen people at a time,
were pafling and repairing from the New Inn (now the
Hop-Pole) to the Mafon's-Arms ; and other boats were
employed in fupplying with lieceflaries, thofe who
were confined to their upper rooms. Seven or eight
boats were often feen, at one time, in tire ftreet. In
St. Mary's-lane the lower (lories were entirely under
water, and many of the inhabitants were taken out of
their chamber windows, together with their beds and
other furniture. The flood was alfo in the church, fo
that divine fervice could not be performed ; and the
graves in the church were mocking to behold, for fcarce
a ftone was to be feen, that was not removed from its
proper fituation. Several parts of this venerable build-
ing were materially injured, particularly the large pillar
next the feats of the corporation, and the arch over the
fame. Two houfes, near the mills, were walhed down,
but, providentially, no lives were loft.
O&ober 11, 1771, the tide flowed in Avon five
inches perpendicular. An inftance of the kind was
probably never before feen.
L
C 98 ]
In November 1/72, was a great flood. The rivers
rofe to a very confiderable height. This was a general
flood.
The month of May, 1773, alfo, produced a very
great inundation, fo high, that, except the extraordi-
nary flood of 17/0, no overflow was ever remembered
equal to this. On Thurfdny the 20th of May, the
rivers Severn and Avon, with the brook Swilgate, came
pouring down fo rapidly, that before night the meadows
were entirely under water. And, on Friday, the 21ft,
the water came up to the top of the Gander-lane, which
greatly alarmed the inhabitants of that part of the town,
left it Ihould come into their houfes, ns in the late high
flood ; but happily, on Saturday, it returned to its pro-
per channel.
At the general eleftion, on Saturday, Oftober 8,
1774, fir "William Codrington, and Jofeph Martin,
efq. were elected reprefentatives in parliament, without
oppofition.
1775. Before harveft wheat fold at Ss. 6d. and gs.
per bufhel ; but, before Chriftmas, the fame fort was
fold for 5s. the bulhel, owing in a great meafure, to the
vaft quantities imported from foreign parts.
On September, in the fame year, an earthquake
was very fenfibly felt in this town, a little after ten
o'clock at night.
On the 6th of January 17/6, was a prodigious fall
of fnow, which continued, with little intermifllon, 'till
the gth of the fame month, when a very fevere froft
began, that lafted 'till the 1ft of February, on which
day a fudden thaw enfued, that occafioned a confide-
£ 99 1
rsble inundation until the 13th of March following.
The fnow was amazingly deep, and in many places,
being driven by the wind, houfes were almoft covered,
and carriages buried in the road ; particularly three
waggons, attempting to go from hence to Cheltenham,
lay tor many days covered with fnow. During this ie-
vere feafon Jofeph Martin, efq. (one of the reprefenta-
tives) fent 1001. to be diilributed among the poor of
this parilh.
March 30, in the fame year, Jofeph Martin, efq.
departed this life. And, on Monday, the 8th of April
following, his brother, James Martin, efq. was elected
reprefentative of this borough, without opposition.
In 1777> a fubfcription was fet onf foot by the in-
habitants of this town, towards the reparation of the
Stanway road, which fubfcription amounted to 317],
and 6d. In addition to this fum, John Martin, efq. of
Ham Court, fubfcribed 1001. and James Martin, efq.
5001.
At the general eleclion, on Monday, September
11, 1/80, fir William Codrington, and James Martin,
efq were re-ele&ed reprefentatives for the borough,
without oppofition.
The winter of 1784 was very fevere. It began
fnowing on Chriftmas day, 1783, and continued fnow-
ing and freezing, with little intermiflion, 'till the be-
ginning of April. Notwithstanding which, there were
great crops of hay and corn the next harvefl, and the
greateft fruit feafon known for mnny years ; yet provi-
fions of all kinds, except vegetables, bore very great
prices.
L2
£ JOO ]
On the 6th of April, the fame year, fir William
Codrington, and James Martin, efq. v. ere agaiu elected
to ferve this borough in- parliament.
In 1/87, the town, at a very heavy expence, was
paved and lighted.
1788. Oit Wednefctay morning, the Kith of July,
our gracious fovereign, George III. the queen, the
princefies Royal, Augufta, and Elizabeth, attended by
lady vifcountefs Weymouth, lord Courtown. and the
honourable colonel Digby, honoured this ancient bo-
rough with a vifit. The king, and his attendants, on
horfeback ; the queen, princetfes, and lady Weymonth,
in coaches. They were received with the moft joyful
acclamations ; and every poflible demonltration of loy-
alty was {hewn on the occalion. The condefceiv ling-
behaviour of their maj cities, when parting through the
town, at once commanded the refpecl, and captivated
the hearts, of the admiring fpeftators. The firlt place
their majefties alighted to view was the Mythe Tute,
that cfelightful little eminence fituated on the Mythe
hill (See My the Hamkt, p. ~0). Upon their return
through the town, they alighted to view that facred
and venerable pile of Gothic architecture, — the abbey
church. The concourfe of people afiembled was very
great} all anxious to behold their illuftrious king, and
his amiable confort. After having feen every thing
worthy of obfervation, his majefty exprefled great fatis-
fa&ion, mounted his horfe, and left this place amidft
the reiterated plaudits of the multitude, (grateful for
the honour conferred on them by a royal vifit) and re-,
turned, with the queen and princefles, to Cheltenham
to dinner, where they refided for the benefit of his ma-
}cfty"s health. In the evening the town was generally
C ror I
and brilliantly illuminated, without the leaft diforder or
irregularity, — all \vas harmony and joy, and each indi-
vidual teemed defirous to rival the other in acts of
refpect and gratitude.
On Saturday the 26th, their majefties pafled and
repaflVd through this town, in their way to and from
the feat of the earl of Coventry, at Croome ; upon,
which occafion the inhabitants gave every proof of their
loyalty and attachment to their fovereign. A grand
triumphal arch was creeled acrofs the ftreet, at the then
Poft Office, adorned and decorated with flowers, bays,
and other evergreens, and with flags fireaming. On
the top of the arch hi- majefty s arms were placed, and
beneath was the following infciiption :
" King George !• before his acceffion to the Throne,
was Baron of Tcwkeibury."
" May the illuftrious houfe of Hanover floujifh to the
lateft pofteiity."
A band of mufic was placed on an eminence near the
arch, who, as their majefties paffed, played, God/awe
the King, &c. and every other means wereufed totef-
lify the plealure received on this occafion*.
The Chriftmas of ] /88, was memorable for a very-
hard and fevere froft, accompanied with an extreme
cold air. It began on the evening of the 23d of No-
vember, and continued without any efte&ual thaw
* Tewkefbury had the honour of feveral other vifits from the
Royal Party, during their ftay at Cheltenham: but as no parti-
cular circumftance marked thofc excursions, the Editor pre.
fumes it might be thought trivial to give the cays on which that
honour was conferred.
c 102 r
•until the 21ft of January, 1/Sg (being eight weeks
and three days), when the bridges of Worcefier and
T rpron were cleared of the ice, fo that the river Severn,
which had been frozen from the 12-th of December to
this time (being five weeks and four days) became again
navigable, a nd'feveral barges, laden with coals, came
in here, to the relief of the diftrefTed poor, and joy of
the inhabitants in general. The hardships of the poor
people in this fevere leafon, were extreme; but, to the
everlafting honour of the ladies and gentlemen of this
town and neighbourhood, be it recorded, that they did
every thing in their power to alleviate the diftreifes of
their fellow-creatures, in caufing coals and bread to be
diftributed among them. Jarnes Martin, efq one of
the reprefentatives, fent 10O guineas for the fame
purpofe,
On the 22d of June, 1789, the rivers Severn and
Avon overflowed their banks, and continued rifing 'till
the 27th. Great quantities of hay were loft or fpoiled,
and the damage done to the farmers and others in and
near this place, was very eonliderable. The roads
leading from the town were all under water, and boats
were employed on the long-rbridge for the more ready
conveyance of foot paflengers.
1790. On Friday the 18th of June, fir William
Codrington and James Martin, efq. from the faithful
difcharge of the tfuft repofed in them, were again re-
ele&ed to ferve this borough in parliament.
On the llth of March, 1702, died fir William
Codrington, fix fucceflive Parliaments member for
Tewkefbury. He was iucceeded by his nephew, Wil-
liam DowdeiwclL efq.
r[ W3 3
.1792. On Thurfday morning the l£th. of April,
occafioned by a great fall of rain, the rivers werefwolu
to an amazing degree, overflowing all the low grounds,
by which much damage was futtained. The water rofe
to the afloniibing height of fifteen feet perpendicular
Ln twenty-four hours: a rife fo rapid in the Severn and
Avon, could not be remembered by the oldeft man
living.
This year an a£t of parliament was obtained for the
better relief and employment of the poor.
1793. The floodgate pit at the quay -emptied.
1794. A very fevere froft commenced on the 23d
of December, and continued with little intermilTion
till the 7th of February following. A fudden thaw-
took place on the Sth, which occafioned a greater in-
undation than had been known ,for many years, and
did very great damage to the roads and bridges. At
the height of the flood the water rofe to within a few
inches of the memorable inundation of 17/0. During
this inclement feafon, the benevolence of the inhabitants
was very liberally exerted in behalf of the poor houfe-
keepers.
In May 1/96, James Martin and William Dowdef-
well, efqrs. were returned members for this borough.
The election was contefted by Peter Moore and Philip
Francis, efqrs. who infifled, amongft. other things, that
no honorary freeman hnd right to vote, and that by the
conftrudion of the charter, the inhabitants at large had
that right; but upon thefe being re;ecl:ed by the re-
turning officers, a petition was prefented to the Houfe
of Commons againft the return ; and in confequence a
[ 104 0
fele5t committee was appointed to determine the merits
of the petition.
The ftatement given in by the Petitioners wa<s, that
the right of election was in the Bailiffs, Burgeflfcs, and
Commonalty; meaning, by the word Burgejfes, fuch
perfons as are entitled to their freedom by fervitude or
copy ; and by the word Commonalty t the inhabitant
houfeholders of the borough.
The fitting members ftated the right of eleftion to
be in the freemen, and in any perfon feifed of an eftate
of freehold, in an entire dwelling within the faid bo-
rough.
Thefe ftatements were both negatived . The com-
mittee determining, that the right of election was in
the freemen at large, and in all perfons feifed of an
eftate of freehold, in an entire dwelling houfe, within
the ancient limits of the faid borough ; declared the
fitting members to be duly elected, and that that part
of the petition which related to the conduct of the re-
turning officers, was frivolous and vexatious.
In December 1797> i'1 confeqnence of the appoint-
ment of Colonel Dowdefwell to the government of the
Bahama iflands, his feat in parliament for this borough
was vacated ; andChriftopherCodrington, Peter Moore,
and George Toilet, efqrs. were candidates to fucceed
him. Mr Codrington was elected by a very confidera-
ble majority; but a rumour having prevailed, that Ire
had been previoufly appointed one of the bailiffs of the
borough, Mr. Moore, on the ground of that report,
again prelented a petition to the Houfe of Commons,
complaining of an undue election.
'[ 105 ]
This petition came on to be heard before a com-
mittee, appointed for that purpofe, in the month of May
following; when, it appearing, on the examination of
Mr. Moore's own evidence, that there was not the leaft
foundation for fuch petition, his counfel, on the fecond
day, declined proceeding any farther, when the com-
mittee refolved that Mr. Codrington was duly elected,
and that the petition was frivolous and vexatious.
By the former determination, the right of election
for the borough is finally fettled.
Mr. Moore petitioned againft the determination ia
refpec\ to the right of election, under the Stat. of 28
Geo. III. c 52, but withdrew his petition.
M
HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES
OF
TEWKESBURY.
PART II.
SURRENDEH OF THE MONASTERY OF TEWKESBURY TO
KING HENRY VIII.
T
JL HE caufes which led to the dilToludon
of the religious houfes in this kingdom, are too well
known to require any elucidation ; but the particulars
of the furrender of the Abbey of Tewkelbury are fo in-
timately connected with the fubjeft of our little volume,
that they cannot fail to be interefting. It was the laft
of the monaftic eftablilhments in the county of Glou-
cefter that yielded to the irrefiftible power of king
Henry VIII. and the abbot appears to have gained a
mitre by his obedience.
The furrender was made under the convent feal,
by John "VVich, alias Wakeman, the abbot, with fifteen
of his monks, the ninth day of January, 153p, and in
M2
[ 108 J
the tbirty-firft year of that king's rdgn ; to Robert
Southwell, efcj. William Petre, Edward Kairn, and
John London, doctors of law; John ap Price, John
Kingfman, Richard Paulett, and William Bernars,
cfqrs. commiflioners, afligned by his faid majefiy to
take the furreader of divers- raonafteries, by force of
his majefty's commiflion to them, or any fix, rive, four,
or three of them in that behalf directed, and dated at
Weftminfter, the feventh of November, in the faid
thirty-rirftyearofhis reign; as well of thofemonafteries-
by his majefty appointed to be altered, as of thofe to be
dhTolved, according to the tenor and effect of his ma-
jefty's commiflion, with inftrudions to them likewife
delivered, as by certificate under the above-namad
commiffioners appears. The introduction to which
furrender was in form following : —
" To all Qbriflian People to lubom tbefe prefents JIM
" come, We tie abbot, &c. and brothers of tbefaid monaf-
" tery,J end greeting. Know ye, that u>e, upon full conji-
" deration, certain knowledge, and mer£ motion, and, for
" divers caufcs jujl and reasonable, moving our fouls and
" confciences, bave freely and voluntarily given and
" granted to our lord ibe king, &c."
The clear yearly value of all the pofleflions belong-
ing to the laid late monaftery, as well fpiritual as tem-
poral, befides 1361. 8s. Id. granted in fees and annuities
to feveral perfons by letters patent, under the convent
fenl for their lives, was 15Q5L 17s. 6d.
The penfions afligned by the commiflioners to the
abbot and other members of that ruonaftery were as
follow :—
r 1-09 i
£. s. di
To John Wich, alias Wakeman, the late
abbot 266 13 4'
To John Beoly, late prior there 16 O O
To John Bromefgrove, late prior at Dcer-
hurft 13 6 8
To Robert Circefter, late prior of St. James,
Briftol 13 6' 8
To William Didcot, the late prior of
Cranburne 1O O O
To Robert Cheltenham, B. B: 10 0 O
To two monks, 81 each 16 0 O
To one monk - / 0 O
To twenty-feven monks, each 61. 13s. 4d 180 0 O
£. 532 6 8
Remains clear, £. 10(53 10 10
The keys of the treasury were delivered to Rich.
Paulett, receiver; buttlie records and evidences belong-
ing to the monaftery, which were depofi ted therein, and
the houfes and buildings affigned to remain undefaced,
•were committed to the cuftody and care of John
"Whittington, knight. A particular of which houfes
and buildings fo pteferved, is as under-mentioned : —
The lodging, called Newark, leading from the gate
to the late abbot's lodging, with the buttery, pantry,
cellar, kitchen, larder, and paftry thereto adjoining;
the late abbot's lodging; the hoftrey; the great gate
entering into the court, with the lodging over the fame ;
the abbot's ftable, bake-honie, brew-houfe, and flangh-
[ no 1 ,
ter-houfe ; the almary, barn *, dairy-houfe ; the great
barn next Avon; the malt houfe, with the garners in
the fame} the ox-houfe in the barton gate, and the
lodging over the fame.
The buildings deemed to be fuperftitious and fu-
perfluous, and fit to be deftroyed, were alfo committed
to the faid John Whittington, knight, and were a»-
follow: —
The church fi with the chapels, cloifter, cfrapter-
houfe, the two dormitories; the infirmary, with cha-
pels and lodgings within the fame ; the work-houfe,
with another houfe adjoining to the fame; the convent
kitchen ; the library ; the miferieord ; the old hoftrey ;
the chambers, lodgings ; the new hall ; the old parlour
adjoining to the abbot's lodging; the cellarer's or but-
ler's lodging ; the poultry houfe; the garner; the al-
inary, and all other houles and lodgings not before
referved.
The following account contains all the different
materials belonging to the lute monafiery, and which
•were feized by the commiffioners for his majefty's
ufe: —
The leads remaining upon the choir, iiles, and
cKapels annexed; the cloifter, chapter-houfe, frater,
St. Michael's chapel, halls, infirmary, and gate-houfe,
were efteemed to be — 180 fodder.
* The remains of this barn are ftill vifible.
i Fortunately, however, the church, with its appendages,
•was pieferved, and made parochial.
[ 111 ]
The bells remaining in the fteeple were eight
poize by eftimation — 14600 \vt.
The jewels re ferved for his majefty's ufe were,
Two mitres gilt, garniflied with rugged pearl, and
counterfeit ftones.
.The filver plate referved for his rnajefty's ufe was,
Silver gilt 329 °2.
.Parcel of ditto 605
.Plain filver 497
Total of oz. 1431
The ornaments referved for his majefty's ufe were,
One cope of filver tiffue, with one chelible and
• tunicle of the fame 5 one cope of gold tiflue, with one
chefible and two tunicles of the fame.
The ornaments, goods, and chattels belonging to
the laid late monaftery, were fold by the faid commif-
(ioners, as in a book of fales thereof made appears, for
the fum of — — 194!. 8s. Od.
To money given to thirty-eight religious perfons of
the faid monaftery — — 80 13 4
To one hundred and forty-four fer-
vants of the faid late monaftery, for
their wages and liveries — 75 10 0
Paid the debts of the faid monaftery 18 12 O
-£.174 15 4
Remains clear, £. 19 12 8
[ m ]
NOTE, For a particular account of the Innds and
poflettions belonging to the late monattery of Tewkef-
bury, vide A Record in the Augmtnta.tion-OjJice, dated
33 H. VIII. proved in the cj.nf<: iVnggan and Aubrey,
A general account of the Ecclefiaftical Livings in
the gift of the Monaltery of Tewkelbury : —
Parfonages. Vicarages.
Glocefterfhire ... ....... 4 ........ 10
Worceftcrfhire .......... 2 ........ 2
Warwicklhire .......... 2 ........ O
Wiltftiire and Briftol .... 5 ........ 3
Oxfordfliire ............ 1 ........ 2
Somerfetfhire .......... 3 ........ O
Devonihire ............ 0 ........ 1
Cornwall .............. O ........ 2
'Glamorgan ............ 0 ........ 5
Dorfetiliire ............ 4 ........ 2
21 27
The Arras of Tewkefbury Abbey were, Gules
ivltbin a border argent, a crofs ra^u.1- Or. Thus they
are blazoned in Willis's Seals of Parliamentary Abbeys,
and engraven in Tanner's Notilia Monaflica, and in
Reyner's Hift. Benedict. ; but in the chancel win-
dow, and on the organ, they are fimply GuleSj a crofs
raguk Or.
<;HHOKOLOGICAL SERIES OF THE ABBOTS OF
TEWKESBURY.
I.
>.T is ftill a difputed point, whether this Ab-
bey was ftridly peeral or not. Fuller, in his Church
Hiitory, feeins to doubt if the abbot had a voice in par-
liament, while Bifhop Godwin, in his Annals, allows
that he had a feat. Sir Robert Atkyns informs us, that
the abbot of Tewkelbury was fummoned to parliament
in the reigns of Hen. Ill Edw. I. and II. ; though the
Abbey, he fays, was not peeral. However, it is certain
that the laft abbot fat among the number of mitred or
parliamentary abbots. Hence we may infer, that if
they had not a prefcriptive right to a feat, they fre-
quently enjoyed it by fummons.
Their names and the dates of their admifilon, are
as follow :
1104. GIRALD was appointed the firft abbot, by
the founder He had previoufly been abbot of Cran-
burne. *He refigned his abbacy in 110Q, and returned
* «' Girald, the chaplain of Hugh earl of Chefter, when he
came to Guenta, took upon him the order of a monk in the
ancient monaflery of St. Peter in that place; feme time after-
wards he was canonical!)' promoted to the government of the
church of Tewki fbury, whereof he was the fit ft Abbat, Samp-
fon being then Bp. of VVorder. Robert Fitz.Hamon had
built there a ftately monaftery toSt.Mary, near the Severn, and
had endowed it with great riches, in the reign of William the
Second, king of England."
f.CCLF.5, HIST. ORDER1C VITAtlS, p. 6oO,
N
[ 11-1 ]
to \Vinchefter, where he had been formerly a monk.
"Whereupon, the year following
1110. ROBF.HT was made abbot. He died in
1124, and was fucceeded by
1124. BENEDICT, who dying in H3/, was fuc-
ceeded by
1137. ROGER, fometimes called Robert. He died
in llO'l, whereupon
ll£>2. FROMUND was made abbot. He died in
1178. In his time the church of Tewkelbury \\as
burnt. At this place appears a large vacancy, for
1182. ROBERT, the next abbot, did not receive
the benediction, 'till fome time in Sept. 1182. He died
the next year. Whereupon here feems another vacan-
cy, for it appears that
1187. ALAN*, prior of Canterbury, received not
the benediction 'till the year 1187. Upon his deceafe,
•which happened in 1202,
1202. WALTER was made abbot. Who dying in
1213, was fucceeded by
1213. HUGH, prior of this place. He died in
1214, and was fucceeded by
1215. BERNARD, a monk of this place; but his
election not being approved, he was fucceeded by
* It appears from an old Book, in which is an account of the
Gentlemen of Eminency in this County, that Alan of Tcwkef-
bury, was a man of grcit learning, and one of the four authors
•who wrote the life of Thomas Bcckct, with his paflion and mira-
cles, to promote his canonization.
1216. PETER, a monk of Worcefter, in 1210".
He died in 1232, and had for his fucceflbr
1232. ROBERT FOKTINGTON, prior of this place.
He died in 1253, and was fucceeded by
1253. THOMAS STOKE, who died in 12/5. His
fucceflbr was
1276. RICHARD DE NORTON. He died in 1282,
and was fucceeded by
1282. THOMAS KEMSEY. Upon whofe deceafe
in 1328,
1328. JOHN COTES was made abbot. He died in
1347, and his fuccellbr was
1347. THOMAS DE LEGH; who died in 136l,and
was fucceeded by
13G2. THOMAS CHFSTERTONJ who dying in
1389, had for his iucceflbr
13()O. THOMAS PARKER, who was a great bene-
faftor to this monaftcry. Among other pious works he
built a curious none chapel over the founder's grave,
and appointed a daily mats to be faid for his and his
wife's fouls. He died in 1412, and was fucceeded by
1414. WILLIAM BKISTOW. He died in 1442,
and was fucceeded by
1443. JOHN ABINGDON; whofe fucceflbr was
1468. JOHN DF. SALYS. When he died is uncer-
tain, but his fucceflbr was
JOHN STRENSHAM.. In his time, it is fup-
pofed by fome, the Abbey was made parliamentary.
He died in 1481, and was fucceeded by
N 2
L 116 ]
1491. RICHARD CHELTENHAM} who died in
1509 He was fucceedcd the fame year by
1509. HENRY BEOLY. It does not appear when
he died, but his fuccefibr is faid to be
1531. JOHN Wren*, alias WAKKMAM, . the laft
abbot of this monnftery, and the lirff bifhop of GloceC-
ter+. He was conlecrated to that fee, Sept. 20, 1541.
The following manor places belonged to the abbot*
of Tewkelbury.
Stanway, which was re-edified and enlarged by
abbot Cheltenham.
Forthampton, on the right bank of the Severn,
about a mile below Tewkelbury.
And, Tewkefbury Park manor place, {landing on
the left bank of the Severn-.
* By other accounts John Walker fucceeded Henry Bcoly,
and died in 15.3!) and was buried in this monaflery under a mar-
ble ftone with his coat of arms, and that he was fucceeded the
fame year by John Wich, alias Wakcinan. This is confirmed by
a manufcript in ihe Herald's Office.
•f John Wich, alias Wakeman, died about the beginning of
November 1549, having i" his life-time erefted a tomb for his
place of burial, in Tewkefbury church, in the north fide of a lit-
tle chapel behind the high allar. But Godwin fays, he was buiied
at Worthington (meaning Wormington inGloucefterfhire) though
Wood rather thinks at Forthampton in the faid county, where he
bad a boufe and chapel,
PARTICULARS OF THE BATTLE OF T EWSE9BU R Y, WITH
SOME REMARKS ON THE EVENT.
" Heard ye the din of battle bray,
" Lance to lance and horfe to horfe ?
" Long years of havoc urge their deRin'd courfe,
" And thto" the kindred fquadrons mow their way."
CRAY'S BARD, alluding to the ruinous civil wars
ef the haufes of York and Lane after.
-T is univerfally acknowledged, that no
event in hiftory requires a more faithful or minute
defcription than that of a military conflift. The im-
portant quarrel of the two rofes is allowed to be an
mterefting epoch, and the battle of Tewkefbury is cer-
tainly one of its moll confiderable events. This battle
having been very fuperficially reprefented by hiftorians
of modern date, the Editor prefumes that the defcrip-
tion of Holinfhed, (the father of Englifli hiftory, and
•whofe works are as rare as they are invaluable,) as being
more copious and fatisfaftory than that of any other
author, will be deemed the moft defirable by the ge-
nerality of his readers, notwithitanding the antiquity
of the language.
" Queene Margaret and hir fonne prince Edward,
with the other that landed at Weimouth, went irom
thence to an abbeie neere by called Ceerne. Thither
came vnto them Edmund dnke of Summerfet, and
Thomas Courtneie earle of Deuonihire, with others,
and welcommed them into England, comforting the
queene in the beft manner they could, and willed hir not
to defpaire of good fucceife ; for albeit they had loft
erne field* (whereof the queene had knowledge ; the
Jcinie day being Mondai in Eatler weeke, the fifteenth
of Aprill, and was therefore right forrow lull) yet they
doubted not but to aifemble fuch a puillance (and that
verie iliortiie) foorth of diuerfe parts of the reaime. as
being faithful!, and wholie bent to fpend their Hues,
and Ihed the beft blond in their bodies for hir fake, and
hir fonnes, it fhould be hard for king Edward to relift
them with all the power lie had or could make.
" The prefenee of thefe noble men greatlie comforted
hir, and relieued hir of the forrowes that in maner ouer
whelmed hir penfiue heart : for ihe doubted fore the
end of all thefe proceedings, the which they concluded
to follow vpon the aduancement of hir and hirs. Spe-
ciallie it mifgaue hir, that Ibme euill Ihould chance to
hir fonne priace Edward, for fhee greatlie weid not of
hir owne perill (as fhe hir felf con felled) and therefore
Ihe would gladlie haue had them either to have deferred
the battell till a more convenient time : or elfe that hir
fonnemight haue been conueied ouer into F ranee againe,
there to haue remained in fafetie, till the chance of the
next battell were tried: but they being of a contrarie
mind, and namelie the duke of Summerfet, ihe at
length confented vnto that which they were refolved
vpon.
" Thus euerie man being bent to battell, gathered
his power by himfelfe. firlt in Summerfetlhire, Dorfet-
flnre, and part of Wiltfhire, and after in Deuonfhire
and Cornewall. For the better encouraging of which
countries to ioine with them in their quarrel], they re-
• The Battle of Barnet.
C HP ]
paired to Excefter. Here they lent for Sir John Artm?
<iell, and fir Hugh Courtenei, and manie other in whom
they had anie confidence. To be ihort, they wrought
fo, that they railed the whole powers of Cornewall and
Deuonfhire, and with a great armie departing foorth of
Excefter, they tooke the right waie to Glaltenburie, and
from thence to Bath, railing the people in all parts
where they carne-. for thole countries had bene fo la-
boured, firft by the earle of Warwike, and after by
the duke of Summedet, and the earl of Deuonlhire
(which two noble men were reckoned as old inheritors
of the fame countries) that the people feemed then
greatly inclined to the fauor of king Hcnrie.
" King Edward, being at London, was dailie ad-
tiertifed by faithfull efpials of all the dooings of his ad-
uerfaries, and was in no fmall agonie, bicaufe he could
•not learne what waie his enimies ment to take, for he
purpofed to incounter them in one place or other, before
they iliould approach neere to London. And vpon fuck
refolution, with fuch an armie as he had got about
London, furnilhed with all artillerie and other pro-
uifions neceflarie, he fet forward the nineteenth of
Aprill, and came to Windfore, where he ftaied a fea-
fon, as well to celebrate the feaft of Saint George, as
to abide the coming of fuch bands as he had appointed
to repaire thither vnto him, making there his general
aflemblie.
" The enimies to mafker him the more, fent foorth
their foreriders vnto fundrie townes, both as well to
raife people in the countries about, as to make the king
beleeue that their purpofe was to pafle thofe waies,
where they ment not once to come. And herevpon
when they departed from Excefter, they fent firft their
t 120 ]
foreriders fireight to Shaftefburie, and after to Saliftw-
rie, and then they tooke the ftreight wale to Taunton,
Glaftenburie, and after to Wels, where houering about
in the countrie, they lent another time their foreriders
to a towne called Yuell, and to Bruton, as if their
meaning hade beene to draw towards Reading, and fo
through Barkefhire, and Oxfordshire, to haue marched
ftreight to London, or elle to haue fet vpon the king at
fome aduantage, if it were offered.
" But king Edveard, confidering aduifedlie of the
matter, perceiued well that they being in an angle of
the realme, if they ment to go to London, they muft
either hold the ftreight waie foorth by Salifburie, or
elfe drawing vp to the fea fide, pafle alongft through
Hampfhire, Sufiex, and Kent; or happilie if they mif-
trufted (heir owne ftrengths, as not able to match with
his puiflance, they would then flip on the left hand,
and draw towards Chesfhire, and Lancafhire, there
to increafe their forces, and peraduenture by the waie
to ioine with a power of Welfhmen, vnder the leading
of Jafper earle of Pembroke, who had beene fent into
Wales long afore, to frame and put in readinefs the peo-
ple there to affift king Henries friends at their com-
ming thitherwards. And fuch was there purpofe
in deed, for they had great confidence in fuch aid,
as they trufted to haue of the Cheslhire and Lanca-
ihire men.
" King Edward, meaning to approch neerer vnto
them, that he might the fooner make waie to flop them
of their paifage, on which hand ibeuer they drew, de-
parted from Windefore the morrow after Saint George's
day, being the foure and twentith day of Aprill, keep-
ing foorth his journey, till on Saturdaie the twentie and
[ 121 ]
fenenth of Aprill he came to Abington, where he laic
Sundaie all date. On Mondaie he marched forward to
Cbichelter*, where he had fure aduertifement that
they intended to be at Bath the next dale being Tuef-
thie, and on Wednefdaie to come forward to give him
battell. Wherevpon king Edward, defirous to fee his
people in order of battell, drew them foorth of the
towne, and incamped in the field three miles diftant
from thence, ftill bufieing himlelfe about his neceffarie
affaires, affoording no time to idlenetfe or loitering : for
he knew that there was no waie more expedite and
readie to tire him in trauell, than to be given to negli-
gence and flouth, the two weariers of well dooing, as
the old iaieing is :
«' Defidia prcflus crit in fludio cito feflfus,"
" On the morrow, hearing no certaintie of their
comming forward, he marched to Malmefburie, ftill
ieekingtoincounter them : butheerehe had knowledge
that they hauing changed their purpofe, ment not to
giue him battell ; and therefore were turned afide and
gone to Briftow, where they were rcceiued, releeued,
and well refreshed by inch as fauoured their caufe, a»
well with vittels, men, and monie, as good ftore of
artillerie. Where vpon they were fo incouraged,
that the Thurfdaie after they tooke the field againe,
purpofing to give king fkhvard battell indeed; and for
the fame intent had fent their foreriders to a towne,
diftant from Briltow nine miles, called Sudburie, ap-
pointing a ground for their field, a mile from the
fame towne, toward the king's campe, called Sud-
burie hill.
• Cirencellcr.
o
[ 122 ]
" The king beereof aduertifed, the fame Thurf-
tlaie, being the tirft of Maie, \virh hi, armie faire ran-
ged in order of battell, came towards the place by them
appointed for their field : but they came not there. I' or
hearing that king Edward did thus npproch, vpon a
new change of rcfolution, they left that \vaie: albeit
fome of their herbingers were come as farre as Sud-
burie towne, and there furprifed fiue or fix of the
king's partie, which were raihlie entred that towne,
attending onlie to prouide lodgings for their matters.
The lords thus hauing eflfoones* changed their pur-
pofe, not meaning as yet to right with the king, directed
their waie Itreight towards Berkelie, trauelling all that
night. From Berkelie they marched forward towards
Glocefter.
'• The king in the mean time, on the Thurfdaie
in the after noone, came to the fame ground called
Sudburie hill, and there ftaied a certeine fpace, fending
foorth fcowriers, to hearken what they might vnder-
lland of the enimies, whom he tooke to be fome where
at hand. But when he could not heare any certeintie
of them, he aduanced forward, lodging his vant-gard
in a vallie beyond the hill, towards the towne of Sud-
burie, and laie himfelfe (with the refidue of his people)
at the fame place, called Sudburie hill. About three
of the clock after midnight, he was aduertifed, that his
enimies had taken their waie by Berkelie, towards Glo-
cefler. Heerevpon taking aduife of his council what
\vas beft to doo, he was coun felled to fend fome of his
* EFTSOONBS, fr^m eft an ancient Bntifh word fignifyng
Ji»i. So thai ejtfoones is a doubling of the voi'dj'odn, wi.kh is,
as it wcrct to fay twice Joan, or vcryfton.
[ 123 ]
femants with all fpeed vnto Glocefter, to Richard
Beauchampe, fonne and heire to the lord Beaucharape
of Powike, to whome he had (before this prefent) com-
mitted the rule and cultodie of the towne and caflell of
Glocefter.
tc The king fent therefore with all fpeed vnto him,
commanding him to doo his beft to defend the towne
and caftell againft his enimies, if they came to a flail
the fame, as it was fuppofed they intended: and if they
fo did, he promifed to come with his whole armie pre-
fentlie to the relcue. The meflengers did their dilli-
gence, and fo being ioifullie receiued into Glocefter,
the towne and caftell, by the vigilant regard of the
laid Richard Benuchampe, was put in fafe keeping.
And this mefiage was doone in good time, for true it
is, there were ditierfe in the towne, that could haue
beeue well contented that the queene, and the lords
with hir, lliould haue beene receiued there, and would
haue aduentered to haue brought to paffe, if they had
not beene thus preuented.
" Againe, the queene and the lords with hir had
good intelligence, with diuerfe in the towne, fo as
they were put in great hope to haue entred the fame :
wherevpon they trauelled their people right fore all
that night and morning, comming before the towne of
Glocefter vpon the Fridaie about ten of the clocke.
And when they perceiued that they were difappointed
of their purpofe, and their entrie flatlie denied, they
were highlit; therewith difpleafed ; for they knew verie
well, that diuerfe within the towne bare their good
O2
tvillcs towards them j but after tl.ey had \ fed certri:ie
menacing braueries, and made a (hew as if they had
meant to afl'alt the gates and walles, and f<> to hanc
entrcd by force, they departed their waies, marching
with all fpeed poflible towards Teukelburie.
" It might be maruelled at, whie they attempted
not the winning of Glocetfer indeed, confidering the
freends which they knew they had within it. But the
caufe which moued them chiefiie to forbeare, was, for
that as well they without, as the other within the
towne, knew that king Edward approached at hand,
and was ready to fet upon them on the backes, if they
had once begun to haue allaulted the towne ; and i'o,
neither they within the towne that were the kings
freends doubted the enimies forces, nor the eniruie in-
deed durft attempt anie fuch en'crprife againft them.
About foure of the clocke in the afternoone, they came
to Teukelburie, hau'tng trauelled that night la ft part,
and that daie, fix and thirtie long miles, in a foule
countrie, all in lanes and flonie waies, betwixt woods,
without anie good refrefhing, fo that as well the men
as the horfses were right wearie.
" And where the more part of their armie con-
iifted of footmen, the capteins could not haue gone
anie further, except they would haue left their foot-
men behind them, and fo of neceflity they weredriuen
to ftaie there, determining to abide the aduenture that
God would fend them. For well they knew that the
Icing followed them verie neere at hand, fo as if they
fhould haue gone further, and left the moft part of
their companie behind, as it could not otherwife haue
chanced, he would haue been readie to haue taken the
[ 125 1
ac!uant?.ge wholie, fo to diftrelfe them*. Hecrevpon
they pight their field in a cloief, euen hard at the
* Rapin fays, " Kdward fo clofcly purfucd 'them, that upon
their arrival at Tewkefbury, they confulud whether they fhould
venture to pafs the river, at the peril of feeing their rear put to
rout, or intrench thcmfclvcs in a park adjoining to the town, tilt
the earl of Pembroke anivcd. The queen, who thought only of
faving the prince, was for parting. Some others, more out ofcom-
plaifance to her than for any good reafon, feconded her opinion. But
thedukeofS'imerfet ftrcnuoufly rppofed it Hercprt fenced the ene-
my was fo nea', that before the army had all paffed, he would cer-
tainly have it in his power to attack them and cut in pieces thofe
who fhould have the misfortune to be left behind : That fuch an
accident, which feemed unavoidable) could not but prove very
fatal, and di (courage fuch *s were ftill friends to the houfe of Lan-
cafier : In fine, though their army was inferior in number to that-
of the enemy, that diladvantage might be repaired by intrf nching
in the park, and drawing lines which would balance the fupe.
riority of his troops After mature deliberation, this opinion was
thought moil advifcable, confidcring the circnmllancrs of time and
place. Hifloiians, of whom few undciiiand the art of war. have
taxed the duke of Somerfet with imprudence and lafhnefs, folely
becaufe they confidered not the difficulty of pafling a river like
the Severn, with die enemy in the rear. But if that general had
been guilty of no other iault, perhaps the queen's aihirs would
have taken another luin. At leaft me might have waited the eail
of Pembroke s arrival, and by fighting upon equal terms, caufed
her enemy to run his (hare of the peril. 'J his the fcqucl will
demonflrate." HIST, or EKC. p. 614.
r Called the Vineyard ; which William of Malmefbury, in his
Book de Pontificibus, alludes to when celebrating the Vineyards
of this county. The W ines of which, he fays, are " little inferior
in fweet verdure to the French Winei." Vineyard* are frequently
dcfcribcd in Domefday Book, and tythes of wines are frequently al-
luded to in the records of cathedrals as objefts of importance. But
thofe improvements (aocordingtoWiHiams'sMonmouthfhire)dif-
appearcd in consequence of the devastations of lhcSaxons,thepolicjr
[ 128 ]
towncs end, hauing the towr.e and abbcie at their
backes ; and directlie before them, and upon each fide
of them, they were defended with cumbcrfome lanes,
<leepe ditches and manic hedges, belide hils and dales,
fo as the place leemed as noiibme as might be to ap-
proach vnto.
" The king on this Fridaie, verie erlie in the
morning, aduanced his ftandards, and in good order of
battel, hauing diuided his armie into three wards,
marched through the plaines of Cottefwould. The
daie was verie hot, and hauing in ln> armie above three
thoufand footmen, he trauelled with them and the re-
fidue thirtie miles and more. By all which waie they
could find neither horflemeat, nor man's meat, no not
fo much as water for their hortfes, except one little
brooke, of the which they receiued no great re-lcefej
for what with the horifes and carriages that pafled
thorough it, the water became fo troubled, that it ferued
them to no ufe: and ftill all that daie king Edward
with his armie was within fine or fix miles of his eni-
mies, he in the plaine ccuntrie and they among the
woods.
" King Edward had ever good efpials, to aduer-
tife him fiill what his enimies did, and which waic
they tooke. At length he came \\ ith all his aimie vnto
of the Norman times, the ncgociations of the Fiench Monarrhs, a
paffion for conquering France, and a taftc for ks fupcrior produc-
tions.
This field is remaikable for a vtrv finr echo, oecafioned, aj
it is fuppofed, by a fubtcriancous paflage from thence under the
Swilgatc to the chuich.
C 127 3
a village called Cheltenham, like a fiue miles diftant
from Teukefberie, where he had certeine knowledge
that his enimies werealreadie come to Teukelberie, and
were incamped there, purpofing to abide him in that
place, and to deliuer him battell. King Edsvard there-
vpon made no long delaie but tooke a little refection
himfelfe, and cauied his, people to doo the like, with
fuch prouifion of vittels as he had appointed to be con-
ueied foorth with him for the relcefc of himfelfe and
his armie. This doone he fet forward towards his eni-
mies, and lodged that night in a field not pall three
miles di riant from them.
" On the morrow being Saturdaie, and fourth of
Maie, he drew towards his enimies, and marflialled his
armie, diuided into three battels in this fort. He put
his brother the duke of Glocefter in the fore-ward, and
himfelfe in the middle-ward. The lord marques, and
the lord Haftings led the rere-ward. Herewith he
approached the enimies campe, which was right hard
to be affailed, by reafon of the deepe ditches, hedges,
trees, buflies, and cumberfome lanes, wherewith the
fame was fen fed, both a front, and on the fides, fo as
the king could not well approach them to anie aduan-
tage : and to be the better in a readinefie to beat backe
the kings power, when he fhould come to aflault them,
they were imbattelled in this order.
" The duke of Summerfet, and his brother the
lord John of Summerfet led the fore-ward. The mi-
dle-ward was gouerned by the prince, vnder the conduct
of the lord of faint John, and the lord We-nlocke
(whome king Edward had aduanced to the degree of
a baron.) The rere-wani was appointed to the rule
of the earl of Deuonmire. Thus may yee perceiue,
that king FJwrard was put to his iliifts, how (to an:--
aduantage) to aiUuilt his enimies. Neuerthelelfe, he
being well farnifhed witbr artillerie, the lame was api'i<:
lodged to annoie the enimies, that they receiwed gre.it
dam.ige thereby ; and the duke ofGlocefter, who lacked
no policie, galled them greeuouflie with the Ihot of
arrowes: and they rewarded »their aduerfaries home
againe with like paiment, both with fliot of arrowes,
and great artillerie, although they had not the like
plentie of guns as the king had. The paiTages were
fo cumberfome, that it was not pomble to come vpon
anie euen hand, to ioine at hand blowes.
" The duke of Glocefter, vpon a politike purpofe
(as fome haue written) reculed backe with all his com-
panie, which when the duke of Summerfet perceiued,
either moued therewith, or elle becaufe he was too
fore annoied with the {hot in that place where he and
bis fore-ward ftood, like a knight more couragious than
circumfpecl:, came out of his ftrength with his whole
battell, and aduanced himfelfe ibmewhat afide, Hips
the kings voward, and by certeine paHages aforehand,
and for that purpofe prouided, (to the king's part, al-
though vnknown) he pafled a lane and came into a
faire open clofe*, right before the king, where he was
imbattelled, not doubting but the prince and the lord
\Venlocke, with the middle-ward, had followed iuft at
his backe. But whether the lord Wenlocke diiVembled
the matter for king Edward's fake, or whether his hart
ferued him not, ftill he flood, and gaue the looking on.
" The king, or (as other haue) the dnke of Glo-
cefter, taking the aduantage that he aduentured for,
* Glaflon Meadow.
I 129 ]
turned agalne face to face vnto the duke of Summerfet
his baltell, and winning the hedge and ditch of him,
entred the dole, and with great violence put him and
his people vp towards the hill from whence they were
defcended. Heere is to be noted, that when the king
was corns before his enimies. yer he gaue the onfet, he
perceiued that vpon the right hand of their campe there
was a parke, and much ftore of wood growing therein ;
and doubting leaft his aduerfaries had laid an ambufh
•within that wood, he chofe foorth of his companies two
hundred fpeares, commanding them to keep a ftale,
like a quarter of a mile from the iield, to attend vpon
that corner of the wood out of the which the ambuth,
if anie were, was to iiThe, and toincounter with them
as occafion ferued : but if they perceiued that there
was no ambulh at all, then to imploie their feruice as
they fhould fee it expedient and behouefull for the
time.
" This politike prouiflion for danger that might
haue enfued (although there was none that waie
foorth) ferued yet before the end of the battell, to
great good purpofe, For when thofe fpeares perfedUie
vnderltood that there was no ambuih within the wood,
andwithall law conuenient time to imploie themfelues,
they came and brake with full random vpon the duke
of Summerfet and his voward a flanke, in fo violent
wife vpon the fudden, that where they had before
inough to doo with thofe with whom they were firft
matched, now with this new charge giuen on them by
thofe two hundred fpeares, they were not a little dif-
maied 5 and to conclude, fo difcouraged, that ftreight-
waie they took them to flight. Some fled into the
parke, other into the meadow there at hand, fome into
P
[ 130 ]
the lanes, and fome hid them in ditches, each one mak-
ing what fliift he could, by the which he hoped beft to
efcapc : but manie neuerthelefie were beaten downe,
flaine, and taken prifoners.
" The duke of Summerfet feeing this vnfortunnte
chance, as fome write, turned to the middle ward, and
there finding the lord Wenlocke (landing ftill, after he
had reuiled him, and called him traitor, with his ax he
flroke the brains out of his head. The duke of Glo-
cefter purfuing after them that fled with the duke of
Summerfet to their campe, where the reft of their
armie flood, entred the trench, and after him the king,
where he bare himfelfe fo knightlie, that therevpon
the queens part went to wracke, and was put to flight ;
the king and other falling in chafe after them, fo that
manie were flaine, but efpeciallie at a mill in the mea-
dow faft by the towne a great fort were drowned.
Many ran towards the towne, fome to the church, and
diuerfe to the abbeie, and other to other places, where
they thought beft to faue themfelues. [This was the
laft fought field or pight bat tell tried between the po-
tentats of this land in king Edward the fourths daies
(which chanced on the fourth of Maie, being Satur-
daie, in the eleauenth yeare of his reigne, and in the
yeare of our Lord, 14/1) as Angkrum prtelia affirmeth,
faieng :
Vltima poflremae locus eft Tcuxburia pugnr.]
" Ip the winning of the campe, fuch as flood to
it were flaine out of hand, prince Edward was taken
as he fled towards the towne, by fir Richard Crofts,
and kept clofe. In the field and chafe were flaine, the
lord John of Summerfet, called marquefle Dorfet, Tho-
mas Courteuie earle of Deuonlhire, fir John Delues,
[ 131 J
fir Edward Hampden; fir Robert WMtfngham, and fir
John Leukener, with three thoufand others. After
the field was ended, proclamation was made, that who-
foeuer could bring foorth prince Edward aline or dead,
fhould haue an annuitie of a hundred pounds during
his life, and the princes life to be faued, if he were
brought foorth aline. Sir Richard Crofts, nothing mil-
trufting the king's promife, brought foorth his prifoner
prince Edward, being a faire and well proportioned
yoong gentleman ; whom when king Edward had well
aduifed, he demanded of him, how he durft fo prelump-
tuouflie enter into his realme with banner dilplaied.
" Wherevnto the prince boldlie an fwered, faieng;
To recouer my fathers kingdome and heritage, from
his father and grandfather to him, and from him after
him to me lineallie defcended. At which words king
Edward faid nothing, but with his hand thruft him
from him, or (as fome faie) ftroke him with his gantlet ;
whom incontinentlie, George Duke of Clarence, Richard
Duke of Glocefier, Thomas Greie, marqueffe Dorcet,
and William lord Hangings that flood by, fuddenlie
murthered * : for the which cruell a&, the more part
* Rapin fays, " I do not know whether the hiftorians are to
be credited, who affirm, thtfe lords killed him with their own
hands. This might be an effeft of the prejudice of thofe that
•wrote the hiftory, after the restoration of the houfe of Lancallcr,
fmce it is certain they have forgot nothing to render the houfe of
Yoik odious. It is likely however, the murder was committed
in the prefence of the fore-mentioned lords."
HIST, or INC. p. 615.
The prince of Wales is faid to have been murdered in the
houfe now occupied by Mr. Thomas Brown, mercer.
P 2
[ 132 j
ot the dooers in their latter dales drankcof the like cup,
by the righteous iuftice and due puniihment of God.
His bodie was homelie interred with the other fimplc
corpfes, in the church of the monafterie of blacke
monks in Teukelburie*.
" After the viftorie was thus atchiened, the king
repaired to the abbeie church there, to give God thanks
for that good fuccefle, which it had plcafed him to
blefle him with : and there finding a great number of
his enimies, that were fled thither to laue themfelves,
he gave them all his free pardon: albeit there was no
franchife there for rebels, but that he might haue
commanded them to haue beene drawen foorth without
breach of anie liberties of that church. He granted
alfo that the dead bodies, as well of the lords as other,
ilaine in that battell, might be buried in the fame
church, or elfe where it pleafed their freends or fer-
tiants, without anie quartering and heading, or letting
vp the heads or quarters in anie publike places. [O the
patience and clemencie of this good king, who befides
the putting vp of wrongs doone to him by violence of
foes without vengeance) freely forgaue the offenders,
and did fo honorablie temper his aftedions !]
" There were found in the abbeie and other place*
ofthetowne, Edmund duke of Summerfet, John Lon-
ftrother lord prior of St. John, fir Thomas Trefliam, fir
Gerueis Clifton, and diuerfe other knights and elquiers,
which were apprehended, and all of them being brought
before the duke of Glocefter, fitting as Conftable of
* He was buried without any folemnity, among Come mean
pcrfousiu the church of the black friers inTcwkefbury. HALL.
England, andthedukeofNorifolke, as Marfliall, in th«
midden ut the towne, they were arraigned, condemned,
and judged to die j and fo vpon the Tuefdaie, being the
feueuth * of Maie, the laid duke and the lord prior, with
the two forenamed knights and twelue other knights,
were on a fcaffold, fet vp in the middle of the towns
for that purpole, beheaded, and permitted to be buried,
without anie other dilinembring, or letting vp of their
heads in anie one place or other.
" The fame Tuelclaie, the king departed from
Teukefburie towards Worcefter, and by the waie had
knowledge that the queene Margaret was found in a
poore houfe of religion, not far from thence, into the
which the u as withdrawen for falegard of hir felfe,
on Saturdaie in the morning, being the daie of the
battell +. She was after brought to London as prilbner,
and fo kept, till hir father J ranfomed Lir with great
fummes of monie§. which he borrowed of Lewes the
eleuenth king of France. And bicaule he was not
able to make repaiment thereof, he fold vnto the faid
Lewes (as the French writers affirme) the kingdomes
of Naples, and both the Sicils, with the countie of
Prouance."
* Hall and Stowe, May 6.
•f Kail fays, " that the queen was found in a chariot, half dead
•with grief at the fight of her forlorn affairs, without knowing
•what was become ol the prince her fon, and was brought in that
condition to king Edward."
J Regnier, duke of Anjon and Lorraine. He was titular king
of Sicily, Naples, and Jerufalem, and dtfcendcd from the count
of Anjou, biother to Charles V.
^ Fifty thoiifand crowns.
[ 134 ]
Tbe. Names ofibofe Perfons ivh were killed in tie Battle
of the Gajlons, near Ttwlitjbury.
(FROM LELANU'J ITI N.)
Edward prince of Wales, buried in the monaftcry
of Tewkelbury.
Edmund duke of Soraerfet, beheaded and buried
there.
John de Somerfet, brother of Edmund, buried
there.
Thomas Courteney, earl of Devonfliire, ditto
Lord Wenlok, whole body was removed to be bu-
ried el fe where.
Humphrey Handeley, beheaded with Thomas
Courteney, and buried together.
Sir Edmund Havarde.
John Delves, the elder, was {lain in the field, and
John Delves his fon was beheaded there, buried toge-
ther, and afterwards removed elfewhere.
Sir William Wichingham.
Sir John Leukenor, flain in the field, and buried
near the Delves 's.
Sir William Vaulz, who fell in the field and buried
there.
Sir Gervais Clifton, who was taken, beheaded, and
buried in the fame place.
Sir William Car and Sir Henry Rofs, taken,
beheaded, and buried in the church-yard of Teukef-
beric.
Sir Thomas Treflam, ditto.
Sir William Lirmouthe, John Urman, Thorna*
Semar, William Rowys, fell in the field, and buried in
the church-yard.
Sir" William Newborow, taken, beheaded, and bu-
ried in the lame place.
t 135 ]
Henry Wately, efq. killed and buried there.
Henry Barow, efq. ditto.
Felding, efq. ditto.
John Gower, fword bearer to prince Edward ; John
Tlore, ilandard bearer to the duke of Somerlet} Henry
Trefham, Walter Courteney, Robert A6ton, prilbners
and beheaded.
Prior of St. John, London, ditto. His body was
removed to be buried among his friends.
Hugh Courteney, made prilbner, and afterwards
beheaded.
Pardoned by King Edward.
Queen Margaret.
Anne, wife of the prince of Wales, who was ilain.
Fofter, chief juftice of England.
.Dr. Mackerell, John Throghmerton, Baynton,
Wroughton.
Stebbing fays, to the monaftery and convent of
Tewkefbury, king Henry VII. granted the parochial
•church of Towton, to pray for the foul of Edmund
duke of Somerfet, his brother John, and others who
loft their lives in the quarrel of the Houfe of Lancafter.
The local memorials of this very decifive battle are
but few. The principal fcenes of the action are the
meadow, which has received the appellation of bloody
meadow, and the vineyard. The former lies between
two gently descending tanks, about half a mile fouth-
weft of the town, and was the fpot where the ilaughter
•was the greateft. The latter was the place where queen
Margaret lay, and where fome intrenchments are ftill
to be traced.
£ 13(5 3
Michael Dray ton, in his " Miferies of Queen
Margarite," has the following verfcs on this battle:
When SOMERSET and DEVONSHIRE came in
To the fad queer.e, and had her not defpaire,
Though they of late infortunate hael bin,
Yet there was helpe that Rnine to repaire
What they had lolt they hop'd againe to winnc,
And that the way lay open yet, and faire.
For that the Weft would wholly with her rife,
Befides from Italics affur'd her of fupplies.
And etiery day ftill adding to their force;
As on their Hoft tow'rds Glocejler they guide
When EOVARD finding their intended cowfe,
Againe for Battell ftrongly doth prouide,
Both Armies they fupply with Foote and Horfe,
By both their friends, as they affeft the fide,
And in their march at Te'ivkefbury they mett
Where they in Order their Battalions fet.
Ill was her choife of this vneuen ground,
Lucklefse the place vnlucky was the howre,
The heauens vpon her (6 extreamely fround,
As on her head their plagues at once to powre ;
As in a Deluge here her hopes were drown'd,
Here fees fliee death her faithfull friends deuoure,
The earth is fill'd with grones, the ayre with cryes,
Horror on each fide doth enclofe her eyes.
Neuer did death fo terrible appeare,
Since fit ft their Armes the Engli/b learnt to weeld,
Who Would fee daughter, might behold it heere
In the true (hape vpon this fatai field,
In vaine was valour, and in vaine was feare,
In vaine to fight, in vame it was to yeeid,
Jn vaine to fly ; for deftiny difcuft,
By their owue hands, or others, dye they muft.
[ 137 1
HereherdeareDEVONSHiERE noble Co VRTNEYdyde,
Her faithfull friend great SVMMERSET here fell,
DELVES, LEVKNOR, HAMDEN, WHITTINGHAM befide,
O MARGARITR, who thy miferies can tell !
Sharpe were thofe fwords which made their wounds fo wide,
Whofe blood the foyle did with th' abundance fwell
Other her friends into theTowne that fled
Taken, no better than the former fpecd.
But the amazing mifery of all
As heauen the greatft vntill the laft had kept,
As it would fay, that after this none (hall
By mortall eyes be worthy to be wept,
The Prince her fonne who fees his friends thus fall
And on each fide their carcafes lye heapt
Making away in this moft piteous plight
Is taken prifoner in his tardy flight.
And forth by CROFTS before the Conquerour brought,
His Proclamations electing euery doubt,
Of the youths fafety : liuing were he caught,
As a Reward to him mould bring him out;
But when they once had found him whom they fought
Hearing his anfweres, Princely, wife, and ftout,
Thofe bloody brothers, HASTINGS, and the reft,
Sheath'd their fliarpe Ponyards in his manly breaft.
Queene MARGARITE thus of mortalls moft forlorne
Her fonne now flaine, her army ouerthrowne
Left to the world as fortunes only fcorne
And not one friend to whom to make her moanc
(To fo much woe was neuer woman borne)
This wretched Lady wandring all alone
Getts to a homely Cell not farre away
If poflibly to hide her from the day.
But wretched woman quickly there bewray'd,
She thence is taken and to Prifon fent,
Q
[ 133 ]
Meanely attended, miferably array'd,
The people wondring at her as (he went ;
Of whom the moft malicioii* her vpbrav'd
With good Duke Humpbres death, lier heart to rent,
Whilft her rnilcle lookes, and Graceful! gefture drue,
Many a fad eye, her miferies to rue.
Till by Duke RAYNER Ranfomed at laft,
Her tender Father, who a Prince but poore,
Borrow'd great Summes of LEWES, with much waft,
Which for he was not able to reftore,
Prouincf and both the Cicils, to him paft,
With fruitfull Naples, which was all his ftore ;
To bring her hacke, from earthly ioyesexil'd
The vndone father, helpes the vndone Child.
And though enlarg'd ere (he could leaue the land,
Making a long yeere of each fhort-liu'd houre,
She heares that by Duke RICHARD'S murthering hand
The King her hufoand fufFers in the Towre
As though high heauen had laid a ftricl command
Vpon each ftane, fome plague on her to powre :
And vntil now that nothing could fuffice
Nor giue a period to her Miferycs*
[ 139 3
MILITARY TRANSACTIONS AT TEWKESBURY, IN THB
REIGN OF KING CHARLES I.
T
A HE banners of war were again difplayed
at this place, during the civil diflentions between
Charles I. and his parliament, which at laft ended in
the overthrow of our monarchy. The fubfequent ac-
count is taken from " Corbett's Military Government
of Glocefter,"
« Sir William Vavafour, fir Walter Pye, and
colonel Wroughton, potfeflcd themfelves of the town
ofTewkefbury on behalf of the king, and fortified it
after the liege of Gloucefler. But before that fiege, the
king's forces under lir Matthew Carew were pofiefl'ed
of Tewkelbury, which they quitted on the rirft news
of the Welch army being made prifoners near Glou-
celter, and in lei's than twelve hours the town of
Tewkelbury was repoffeflcd by the parliament's forces,
•who immediately received an alarm, that the former
forces were returned with a greater power : 'Twas a
gallant brigade of horfe, commanded by lord Grandi-
ion, which came from Cheltenham. Captain Fiennes,
with his party, had certainly been furprized by them,
but for a ridiculous accident. Lord Grandifon meeting
with a man going from the town, about a mile off,
queftioned him whether any forces were there, of what
ftrength, and by whom commanded. The man, hip-
poling them part of the parliament's forces, and willing
to curry favour, talked of vaft numbers, great ftrength,
Q2
and defied the cavaliers with much afie&ed indignation,
Upon this they held a council ot war, and weieonce
about to turn back. This delay gave an hour's refpite
to thofe within to prepare for flight, who had 1:0 Conner
recovered the end of the town, than the horfe t ntered
it at the other, amazed to fee themfelves fo miferably
deluded.
" This town was afterwards fortified by the king's-
party, and became a bad neighbour to Gloucefter, the
parliament's head garrifon ; wherefore governor Maflie,
on the 5th of June, in the year JL()44, with one hundred
and twenty horfe, about thirty dragoons, and three
hundred foot, refolved to attempt the taking it. The
horie and dragoons, commanded by major Hammond,
advanced fome few hours before the foot and artillery,
and were to alarm the enemy till the foot came up.
They made a halt about a mile from the town, and
drew out a pretty ftrong forlorn hope, conceiving they
might poifibly lurprife them, if they had not as yet
taken the alarm. And firft, three men were fent before
to efpy if the draw-bridge was down, and fix more
behind went undifcovered ; next unto thefe marched
the forlorn hope, and the main body in the rear. In
this pofture they advanced up to the town, where they
found the bridge down, the guards llender, the enemy
•without intelligence, and lupinely negligent. On went
the firft party, killed the centinels, a pikeman, and a
muiketeer without match, and made good the bridge.
The forlorn hope rufhed in, and after them a full body
of horfe and dragoons fell upon the guards, came up to
the main guard before the alarm was taken, overturned
their ordnance, and charged through the ftreets as far
as the bridge, Worcefter-way, where they took Major
Myn, governor of the town. The enemy threw down
their arms, many efcaped by flight, and many were-
taken priibners. Of the king's party colonel Godfrey,
the quarter-mafter-general, and a lieutenant, were
flain in the firti charge. But the parliament's forces
difmounting, and neglecting to make good the bridge,
at which they entered, and to dilarm the main guard,
the latter at length took courage, charged fome of
them, and beat them out of the town. However,
colonel Maffie coming up with a few horfe in the van
of the foot, ordered the dragoons to fire on thole that
defended the bridge* next Glocefter, whilfl he drew
the foot round the town, it being now dark night ; but
before he could reach the further end, where he entered
about midnight, the garrifon were fled towards Wor-
cefter. There were found in the town two brafs
drakes, eighteen barrels o£ powder, and a few other
military ftores. The town itielf was of great confe-
quence to the parliament, as a frontier town, fecuring
that fide of the county, and commanding a great part
of Worcelterihire."
* Swilgatc.
APPENDIX.
SOME ACCOUNT OF THE 'WALTON WATER, NEAR
TEWKESBURY.
T
A HE medicinal powers and natural hiftorjr
of the waters of Walton, nearTewkefbury, having been
illuftrated by experiments in a valuable traft, written
fome years fince by the ingenious Dr. Johnftone of
Worcefter, and annexed, with the Doctor's permiirion,
to the former editions of this hiftory ; it might be deemed
.in omiflion in the editor, to conclude this work without
noticing it, though, from the immediate refidence of the
proprietor upon the efcate, we are forry to fay, accefs to
the well, is now become difficult. We (hall therefore,
content ourfelves with the following extracls, referring
the reader to the tracl: itfelf for further fatisfadion.
" The ufe and advantages of waters is eftablifhcd
by experience alone, as well as that of every article, in
the materia medica. The advantages found from the
life of the Walton well, in various eruptive difeafes,
and in old fordid ulcers, as well as in many other dif-
eafes. has already been fo considerable, as to confirm
the expectation grounded on their being fimilar to the
Cheltenham water.
" It will undoubtedly be found as much like Chel-
tenham water, as that water is like itlelf at different
feafons. Seafons occafion accidental differences of fa-
turation in all mineral waters, the caufe of which is
fometimes known and fometimes unknown. Rainy
[ 143 ]
reafons, while they make fprings more abundant, ren-
der the mineral impregnation at the fame time weaker.
To this alteration, the Walton water muft be fometimes
liable, as it lies on a plain, part of which is frequently
overflowed with water. But if by experience this
lhall be found to have any confiderable influence.,
means will be ufed to remove the inconvenience. An
inconvenience which is very feldom likely to happen
in dry and warm feafons, in which waters of this clafs
are for the mod part reforted to.
" After all, I am perfuaded, that the dilution of
mineral waters is very feldom any injury to the patient.
The virtues and powers of mineral water depending
principally on the quantity ,of water, the medium, in
•which the medicinal ingredients are fufpended; the
vehicle which conveys them into the fmalleft veflels,
and makes them capable of removing obftrudions fixed
in them, and in various glands; hence the fame medi*
cinal ingredients, given in the ufual forms, have but
little efficacy in removing fuch difeafes.
" The healing powers of the Walton well, and thofc
of its elder lifter of Cheltenham, are owing to the mix-
ture of a neutral compound of vitriolated magnolia,
commonly called epfom, or cathartic fait ; to vitriolated
mineral alcali, or glauber fait, wirh a fmall portion of
falited mineral alcali, magnolia, and lime, nearly to the
quantity of a drachm, in a pint -of water; alfo, to a
confiderable quantity of fixed air, and hepatic gas, bj
the former of which iron, and by the latter magnefia,
and abforbent earth are held in folution.
" The whole is a compolition friendly to appetite
and digeftion, as well as foft and pleafing to the tafte.
It is alfo a penetrating deobftruent and attenuating me-
I 144 ]
tllcine, and in fenfible operation, a quick aucl gentls
laxative and diuretic; and when applied with dif-
•cretion, it may be continued a loug time without any
diminution of itrength.
" It is obvious this water contains faline ingredients,
and, others poifefling different attractive powers and af-
finities, which, though balanced in the water, yet, when
mixed with animal fluids and falls in the courfe of di-
geftion, chylification, and in circulation with the blood,
muft be fo changed and varied, as to form new attrac-
tions and combinations in their courfe through the vef-
iels, whence compounds, poffefiing properties different
from what exifted before, will be produced, and the
fyftem itfelf will be changed. It is well known, that
cold is generated by diflblving falls, and, that while fa-
line bodies, of different affinities and attractive powers,
are forming new compounds, fuch falls, in the procefa
of mutual attraction and incorporation, produce heat.
In this manner, and from fuch caufes, new ftimuli. with
olher alterations, take place in the glands and remoter
vefTels of our fyftem, from the falls, combined with
other ingredients in mineral waters; and it is by thefe
means, as well as evacuation, they become beneficial,
and are really valuable alterative medicines."
: printed by W.
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